George Clooney has responded sharply to Donald Trump after the US president mocked the actor and his family for obtaining French citizenship. Trump called Clooney and his wife, Amal, 'two of the worst political prognosticators of all time' on Truth Social, adding that Clooney 'wasn't a movie star at all, he was just an average guy who complained, constantly, about common sense in politics.'
Clooney, 64, his wife and their two children became French citizens earlier this month after living on a property in southern France for years. The Oscar winner cited France's privacy laws and the chance to raise his children away from Hollywood as key reasons for the move. 'I love the French culture, your language, even if I'm still bad at it after 400 days of courses,' he told RTL radio in December.
Trump's comments drew a pointed response from Clooney, who told the Hollywood Reporter: 'I totally agree with the current president. We have to make America great again. We'll start in November.'
The Clooneys' naturalisation has sparked debate in France, with a junior minister criticising the decision due to Clooney's poor French. However, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez and the foreign ministry defended it, citing a law that allows naturalisation for those who contribute to France's influence. The ministry noted Clooney's film industry role and Amal's legal work as meeting the criteria.
Under new immigration rules from 1 January, language requirements will be tougher for most applicants, requiring a certificate of French proficiency at university entry level and a civic knowledge test. Around 48,800 people acquired French nationality by decree in 2024.
