President Donald Trump doesn't seem ready to forgive George Clooney for that New York Times op-ed. On Wednesday, Trump used the actor's newly confirmed French citizenship as an opportunity to revisit their political differences in characteristic fashion on Truth Social.
A Post That Covered Multiple Targets
"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, much like we had under Sleepy Joe Biden," Trump wrote.
The post didn't stop there. Trump went after former Vice President Kamala Harris, calling her "another stellar candidate" while simultaneously misspelling her name and mocking internal Democratic Party conflicts. He also downgraded Clooney's Hollywood status entirely, rejecting the "movie star" label and instead describing him as "just an average guy who complained, constantly, about common sense in politics."
This isn't new territory for Trump and Clooney. The friction dates back to last year when Clooney published an opinion piece calling on Democrats to move beyond former President Joe Biden. According to Reuters reporting from July 2024, that New York Times op-ed sent shockwaves through party insiders and donor circles at the time.
Life in the French Countryside
So what's the actual story behind the citizenship? According to the Associated Press, Clooney, his wife Amal Clooney (a prominent human rights lawyer), and their twin children have been naturalized after establishing their primary residence at an 18th-century estate in southern France.
The move wasn't about politics, at least not from Clooney's perspective. He's talked publicly about wanting to raise his children away from Hollywood's relentless paparazzi culture and has praised the "normalcy" that comes with life in rural France. It's a pretty straightforward quality-of-life choice for a family that can afford to make it.
France Stands Behind Its Decision
The citizenship grant sparked some domestic criticism in France, which prompted the government to issue a defense. Officials explained that the couple received naturalization because "they contribute, through their distinguished actions, to France's international influence and cultural outreach." This falls under French law that permits foreign nationals to receive citizenship for exceptional service to the country.
Trump's post also wove Clooney into his broader narrative about European governance. The president has maintained ongoing tensions with European leaders, recently threatening substantial tariffs on French champagne and other EU products while criticizing Europe as "weak" on security and border control. The Clooney citizenship announcement gave him another data point to work into that larger critique about Europe's approach to immigration and security.