Endless paperwork, an interview, two exams… and waiting. This would be the usual procedure to acquire the french nationalityexcept if you’re George Clooney.
On December 26, 2025, the Clooney family obtained French citizenship, and their naturalization has not gone unnoticed. Especially after the actor confessed that does not speak the language of the countryeven though he is already remedying it. “My children speak French in front of me so they can say terrible things to my face and I don’t know it,” he joked during an interview.
The news has sparked controversy in the country since it became known after the tightening of requirements to acquire French nationality with the introduction of a French language exam and another on civic knowledge of the country. One more barrier that came into force at the beginning of 2026, for those who want to establish themselves legally in the country and that comes in the midst of an intense political debate about the migration in France.
A “great opportunity”
Faced with the controversy, the Government argued that the Clooney family received nationality as “a great opportunity” for the country achieve greater international influence. “They live on French territory, in the Var department most of the time, and their children study there,” explained the Minister of the Interior, Laurent Nuñezand insisted that “they carry out many actions in the national territory and contribute enormously to the cultural and intellectual influence of our country.”
Some have also pointed out the silence of the extreme right of Marine Le Pen. While the party of National Group constantly defends the immigration limitationcuriously this time he has not officially commented on the Clooney case, with the exception of his deputy Thomas Ménagewho claimed to be a “source of pride”, since the Clooneys do not come to “enjoy the benefits of nationality.”
However, the minister delegate of the Minister of the Interior, Marie-Pierre Védrennewas concerned about the perception of “justice” that this naturalization could generate in the population, adding that, on a personal level, she understood the assessment of “double standards” on this issue.
Trump also has something to say
The American presidentDonald Trumpalso had something to say about this matter, publicly mocking the actor and his family on his social network Truth Social. “Good news! George y Amal Clooney, two of the worst political forecasters of all time, have officially become French nationals,” Trump wrote, before mocking the influence and career of the actor, “whose few films are totally mediocre.”
The tenant of the White House did not miss the opportunity to criticize European migration policies: ““Unfortunately, France is currently facing a serious crime problem due to its absolutely disastrous handling of immigration, like the one we had under sleepy Joe Biden.”
Clooney was quick to respond to the president: “I totally agree with the current president. We must make America great again. We will start in November,” that is, when the House of Representatives and a third of the Senate will have to be renewed.
Residence in France from 2021
The Clooney family acquired in 2021 a farm with vineyards in Brignoles, to the south of France. Since then, this French mansion has become the Clooneys’ main residence, away from the paparazzi, and where their twin children study and enjoy greater privacy thanks to strict European child protection laws.
The actor opened up in an interview for ‘Esquire’ about the reasons for the change of residence: “I was worried about raising our children in Los Angeles, in the culture of Hollywood. I don’t want them to walk around worried about the paparazzi.”
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