George Clooney has responded to US President Donald Trump after Trump mocked the actor and his family for obtaining French citizenship. Trump posted on Truth Social that Clooney and his wife Amal were 'two of the worst political prognosticators of all time' and claimed Clooney's movies were 'mediocre'.
In a statement to the Hollywood Reporter, Clooney referenced the upcoming US midterm elections, saying: 'I totally agree with the current president. We have to make America great again. We’ll start in November.'
The 64-year-old Oscar winner, his wife Amal Alamuddin Clooney, and their two children became French citizens earlier this month after living on a property in southern France for years. Clooney has praised French privacy laws and the opportunity to raise his children outside Hollywood.
The decision to grant citizenship to the Clooneys has drawn criticism from some French officials, including junior interior minister Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, who expressed concern over a 'double standard' given Clooney's poor French language skills. However, interior minister Laurent Nunez and the foreign ministry defended the move, citing the couple's contributions to France's cultural and international influence.
Under French law, citizenship by naturalisation can be granted to French-speaking foreigners who contribute through 'distinguished service' to France's influence and international economic relations. The foreign ministry said the Clooneys met these conditions after a rigorous procedure including security checks and interviews.
Clooney bought a former wine estate in Provence in 2021 and has said his family is 'happiest' there. His wife Amal, a human rights lawyer, speaks fluent French, while Clooney has admitted his French remains poor despite taking courses.
