Good riddance!
President Donald Trump delivered a sharp and unmistakable message this week after learning that Hollywood actor George Clooney and his wife, international lawyer Amal Clooney, were granted French citizenship.
The president reacted on Truth Social, using the moment to highlight what he sees as the growing divide between everyday Americans and wealthy celebrity elites who criticize the United States while choosing to live abroad. Trump also pointed to France’s ongoing crime and immigration challenges, arguing they mirror the consequences of weak leadership and open-border policies.
According to Trump, France is now dealing with many of the same problems Americans faced during the Biden years — rising crime, immigration failures, and government leaders unwilling to enforce common-sense laws. He contrasted that approach with his own administration’s focus on border security, law enforcement, and national sovereignty.
Trump also revisited Clooney’s role in Democrat politics. The actor famously urged then-President Joe Biden to abandon his 2024 reelection effort following a widely criticized debate performance against Trump. Clooney later threw his support behind Kamala Harris, a move Trump mocked as another example of Hollywood being out of touch with everyday voters.
In his remarks, Trump sarcastically referred to Harris as a “top-tier candidate,” while suggesting Democrats are now struggling to find credible leadership. He lumped Harris together with several high-profile Democrat governors, arguing the party is stuck recycling failed ideas that voters have already rejected.
The president didn’t limit his criticism to politics. He also pushed back on Clooney’s Hollywood reputation, questioning whether the actor truly deserves the “movie star” label. Trump described Clooney as a familiar type in modern entertainment — a celebrity who lectures Americans while enjoying elite privileges far removed from real-world consequences.
The Clooney family reportedly received French citizenship in late December. Clooney has previously spoken about relocating his family to a countryside estate in France, which the couple purchased in 2021. He has expressed discomfort with raising children in Los Angeles and within Hollywood culture.
In a past interview, Clooney claimed France offers more privacy and less obsession with fame. Critics, however, have noted the irony of celebrities leaving the United States after years of publicly shaping cultural and political narratives here at home.
Despite the move, Clooney will retain his American citizenship, as French law allows dual nationality. Amal Clooney, who was born in Lebanon and raised in the United Kingdom, is also eligible to hold multiple citizenships.
France’s Foreign Ministry defended the decision, citing laws that allow citizenship for individuals deemed to provide economic or international influence. That explanation has sparked debate among critics who question whether immigration rules are applied equally to everyday people versus global elites.
For many Trump supporters, the episode underscores a familiar frustration: Hollywood figures who criticize America, benefit from its freedoms and wealth, and then choose to leave — while ordinary citizens remain behind to deal with the consequences of failed leadership and policy decisions.