George Clooney has responded after President Donald Trump took aim at the actor’s recent move to France and dismissed his film career.
The 64-year-old Oscar winner and his wife, Amal Clooney, have recently become French citizens after spending years at their 425-acre Provence wine estate, Domaine du Canadel. Trump criticized the couple on Wednesday via Truth Social, calling them “two of the worst political prognosticators of all time” and labeling Clooney’s movies “totally mediocre,” before closing his post with his familiar “Make America Great Again” slogan.
Clooney offered a pointed reply on Thursday in The Hollywood Reporter. “I totally agree with the current president,” he said. “We have to make America great again. We’ll start in November.”
Why It Matters
Clooney has long been a prominent liberal voice in Hollywood, backing Democratic candidates and causes through fundraising and public commentary. While he and Trump once crossed paths amicably before Trump entered politics, their relationship deteriorated as Trump rose to national prominence.
The actor has also shown a willingness to criticize Democrats. In 2024, he distanced himself from then-President Joe Biden following a widely criticized debate performance, signaling frustration with party leadership.
What To Know
The exchange comes amid renewed scrutiny of France’s decision to grant citizenship to the Clooneys, particularly as new immigration rules require most applicants to pass French-language and civic knowledge tests.
French junior interior minister Marie-Pierre Vedrenne questioned the move, citing what she described as a “double standard” given Clooney’s limited French proficiency. “We need to be careful about the message we’re sending,” she said in an interview with France Info radio.
French officials, however, defended the decision. The government pointed to a civil code provision allowing naturalization for individuals who enhance France’s international standing. The foreign ministry said the Clooneys “contribute through their distinguished service to France’s international influence and cultural prestige,” highlighting George Clooney’s work in film and Amal Clooney’s legal career with international organizations based in France.
A Sharpening Political Edge
Clooney has become increasingly outspoken about U.S. politics and media culture. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he reflected on earlier interactions with Trump before politics reshaped their relationship.
“He used to call me a lot, and he tried to help me get into a hospital once to see a back surgeon,” Clooney recalled. “He’s a big goofball. Well, he was. That all changed.”
Clooney and his family have lived full-time in southern France since 2021, when they purchased the estate near Brignoles in Provence. The property includes roughly 100 acres of vineyards, 1,200 olive trees, and a vegetable garden. French media have reported the purchase price at around $10 million.
Privacy was a major factor in the move, Clooney has said. “I love the French culture, your language, even if I’m still bad at it after 400 days of courses,” he told RTL radio. Amal Clooney, 47, who is British and Lebanese, is fluent in French and continues her legal and academic work across Europe.
What People Are Saying
Trump wrote on Truth Social that the Clooneys had become citizens of a country “in the midst of a major crime problem” due to immigration policies, while also revisiting Clooney’s political support for Democratic candidates. He claimed the actor received “more publicity for politics than he did for his very few, and totally mediocre, movies,” concluding with “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
In an October interview with Esquire, Clooney spoke about raising his children in France and away from Hollywood. He described growing up on a farm himself and said life in France has given his kids a more grounded upbringing—less focused on screens, fame, or paparazzi. “In France, they kind of don’t give a shit about fame,” he said, adding that he wanted his children to grow up without constant comparisons to other celebrity families.
What Happens Next
France’s foreign ministry said the Clooneys’ passports were granted in accordance with French law. In 2024 alone, approximately 48,800 people acquired French nationality by decree, according to figures from the interior ministry.
