George Clooney fired back at President Donald Trump after the president attacked him for becoming a French citizen. The 64-year-old Oscar-winning actor, his wife Amal, and their two children became French citizens earlier this month. They have lived on a property in southern France for years.
According to The Guardian, Trump wrote on Truth Social that France was welcome to Clooney, who has long supported the Democratic Party and criticized the president. Trump called Clooney and his wife “two of the worst political prognosticators of all time” and said France is dealing with major crime problems due to poor immigration handling.
The president also attacked Clooney’s acting career, saying he made “very few, and totally mediocre, movies” and wasn’t really a movie star. Trump claimed Clooney was “just an average guy who complained, constantly, about common sense in politics.”
Clooney delivered a sharp response with midterm elections in mind
Clooney didn’t hold back in his response. “I totally agree with the current president. We have to make America great again. We’ll start in November,” the Hollywood star said. This was a clear reference to the upcoming US midterm elections on November 3.
The Clooneys received their French citizenship before new, stricter language requirements take effect on January 1. The attack on Clooney comes as Trump faces mockery over tariff policy from business leaders. Under the new rules, applicants will need a certificate showing they can speak French well enough to attend a French university. They’ll also have to pass a civic knowledge test.
BREAKING: Hollywood legend George Clooney brilliantly fires back at Donald Trump after he unleashed a deranged New Year's Eve attack on the beloved actor.
— Occupy Democrats (@OccupyDemocrats) January 1, 2026
The MAGA maniac bit off more than he could chew this time…
“I totally agree with the current president. We have to make… pic.twitter.com/jq7PgG4Zfd
A junior member of French President Emmanuel Macron’s government criticized the decision to give Clooney citizenship despite his poor French. Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, a junior interior minister, said she understands why some French people feel there’s a double standard. However, her boss and the foreign ministry defended the decision.
Clooney himself admitted his French is still poor even after 400 days of language courses. He told the media that he loves French culture and language, but he’s still bad at it. His wife Amal, who is an international human rights lawyer and has UK-Lebanese citizenship, speaks fluent French.
The French foreign ministry said the Clooneys met all the legal requirements for citizenship. The process included security checks, official interviews, and payment of required fees. The president’s latest comments follow revelations about Russia’s influence over his administration.
French law allows citizenship for foreigners who speak French and contribute to France’s influence through distinguished service. The ministry said George contributes through his film work and Amal through her legal work with French institutions. About 48,800 people became French citizens in 2024.
