George Clooney hits back at Donald Trump with scathing response after he slammed actor over French citizenship

In a move that signals a definitive end to his life in the Hollywood hills, Academy Award-winner George Clooney has officially relocated his family to France. The transition, marked by the acquisition of French citizenship for both the actor and his wife, human rights attorney Amal Clooney, has sparked a firestorm of political rhetoric from President Donald Trump, reigniting a long-standing rivalry between the two figures. For Clooney, the allure of Europe is far from a new infatuation. While he has long maintained a high-profile estate on the shores of Lake Como, Italy, his focus shifted toward the French countryside in 2021. It was then that he purchased Domaine du Canadel, a sprawling former wine estate situated near the tranquil town of Brignoles in Provence. What began as a seasonal retreat has now become a permanent sanctuary. Clooney has frequently cited the region as the place where his family is “happiest,” and after several years of split-time residency, the family’s new citizenship status confirms that the move is no longer temporary.

A Quest for Privacy and Protocol

Sources close to the family suggest the relocation is driven by more than just a love for the Provencal sun. Clooney has been a vocal proponent of France’s stringent privacy laws, which offer a level of protection against international paparazzi that is virtually non-existent in the United States.

By establishing roots in Europe, the Clooneys have managed to raise their young twins away from the relentless glare of the Hollywood media machine—a priority the actor has championed since the birth of his children.

Trump Fires Back: “Two of the Worst Political Prognosticators”

The departure of one of the Democratic Party’s most prominent fundraisers did not go unnoticed at the White House. On December 31, President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to deliver a searing New Year’s Eve “tribute” to the departing actor.

In a lengthy and characteristic rant, the President dismissed the move as “good news” for America, while simultaneously criticizing the state of Clooney’s new home.

“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,” Trump wrote.

The President didn’t stop at policy, pivoting quickly to a critique of Clooney’s professional legacy. “Clooney got more publicity for politics than he did for his very few, and totally mediocre, movies,” Trump added. “He wasn’t a movie star at all, he was just an average guy who complained, constantly, about common sense in politics.”

Clooney’s Counter-Punch

True to form, Clooney appears unfazed by the digital broadside. In a statement obtained by Deadline, the Oceans Eleven star offered a dry, one-sentence retort that directly referenced the President’s own campaign slogan:

“I totally agree with the current president. We have to make America great again. We’ll start in November.”

In a deeper reflection shared with Variety, Clooney reminisced about a time when his relationship with the President was actually cordial, long before the billionaire entered the political arena. Clooney recalled a version of Trump that was more “goofball” than firebrand.

“I knew him very well,” Clooney told the publication. “He used to call me a lot, and he tried to help me get into a hospital once to see a back surgeon. I’d see him out at clubs and at restaurants. He’s a big goofball. Well, he was. That all changed.”

As the Clooneys settle into their life as French citizens, the exchange serves as a vivid reminder of the deep cultural and political chasm currently dividing the American elite.