Paris, December 30, 2025 – George Clooney is pushing back against criticism from former U.S. President Donald Trump after France granted citizenship to the actor, his wife Amal Clooney, and their two children earlier this month.
A Transatlantic Clash Over Citizenship
The move has ignited a political firestorm, with Trump questioning Clooney’s patriotism and France defending its decision.
- George Clooney and his family were granted French citizenship after years of residing in southern France.
- Donald Trump criticized the decision, questioning Clooney’s loyalty and France’s immigration policies.
- Clooney has praised France’s privacy laws and the benefits of raising his children outside of Hollywood.
- The Clooneys’ citizenship comes ahead of stricter language requirements for naturalization in France.
Clooney, a longtime Democrat supporter and vocal critic of Trump, responded to the former president’s attacks with a pointed remark about the upcoming U.S. midterm elections. “I totally agree with the current president. We have to make America great again. We’ll start in November,” Clooney told the Hollywood Reporter.
Trump, writing on his social media platform, welcomed the Clooneys’ move to France, while simultaneously criticizing their political views and the country’s handling of immigration. “Good News! George and Amal Clooney, two of the worst political prognosticators of all time, have officially become citizens of France which is, sadly, in the midst of a major crime problem because of their absolutely horrendous handling of immigration,” Trump wrote. He also dismissed Clooney’s film career, stating, “Clooney got more publicity for politics than he did for his very few, and totally mediocre, movies. He wasn’t a movie star at all, he was just an average guy who complained, constantly, about common sense in politics.”
The Clooneys’ decision to seek French citizenship comes as France prepares to implement stricter language requirements for naturalization on January 1. Currently, French nationality can be conferred upon individuals who contribute to France’s influence and economic prosperity, as outlined in the civil code. Under the new rules, applicants will need to demonstrate a level of French proficiency equivalent to that required for university admission and pass a civic knowledge test.
Clooney has openly discussed his appreciation for French privacy laws, which have shielded his family from intense media scrutiny. He also highlighted the benefits of raising his children outside the glare of Hollywood, stating that his family is “happiest” at their estate, Domaine du Canadel, near Brignoles in Provence, which he purchased in 2021.
While some within the French government have questioned the decision to grant citizenship to Clooney, given his limited French language skills, others have defended it. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez expressed his “very happy” sentiment regarding the Clooneys’ new citizenship, stating that France is fortunate to have them. The French foreign ministry affirmed that the Clooneys’ naturalization “meets the conditions set by law,” following a thorough process including security investigations and tax payments.
The ministry emphasized that the Clooneys “contribute through their distinguished service to France’s international influence and cultural prestige,” particularly through Clooney’s work in the film industry, which “only contribute to maintaining and promoting France’s position in this essential economic sector.” Amal Clooney, an international human rights lawyer, also “regularly collaborates with academic institutions and international organisations based in France.”
Approximately 48,800 people acquired French nationality by decree in 2024, according to interior ministry figures. Clooney is not the only celebrity seeking a French passport; Hollywood director Jim Jarmusch announced on Friday that he is also applying, citing a desire for “a place to where I can escape the United States.”
