George Clooney and his wife Amal Clooney, along with their eight-year-old twins, have officially become French citizens. This has raised questions about whether the Hollywood actor and his family are slowly moving away from the United States, especially as Clooney has remained a vocal critic of US President Donald Trump.
Clooney against Trump
Clooney has consistently criticised Trump but has also acknowledged that Trump won the presidency through a democratic process. The actor has said he hopes the president performs well for the good of the country. Clooney has spoken about teaching his children how to handle loss with grace.
He often tells his son that losing means shaking hands and preparing for the next chance. However, his disagreement with Trump’s ideas remains strong. Clooney believes that ‘Trumpism’ will not survive for long because it depends heavily on Trump’s celebrity appeal rather than lasting political values.
The actor has warned that Trump’s attitude towards the media poses a serious threat to press freedom in the US. Their differences have frequently played out in public, with Trump mocking Clooney as a “fake movie actor”, a “second-rate movie star” and a “failed political pundit”.
Why France works for the Clooney family
George Clooney has repeatedly praised France for its strict privacy laws, especially those protecting children from paparazzi. He has said this was a key reason behind the family’s decision to settle there.
“I love the French culture, your language, even if I’m still bad at it after 400 days of courses,” the actor told RTL radio at the time. “Here, they don’t take photos of kids. There aren’t any paparazzi hidden at the school gates. That’s number one for us,” he said.
Deep roots in Europe
George Clooney’s connection with Europe goes back many years, well before his 2014 marriage to Amal, who is a British-Lebanese lawyer. The actor bought a property near Italy’s Lake Como in 2002. The couple later purchased a historic manor in England and, in 2021, acquired a former wine estate called Domaine du Canadel near Brignoles in southern France. They still own a New York apartment and a home in Kentucky, but have reportedly sold properties in Los Angeles and Mexico over the past decade. Although the Clooneys continue to travel frequently, Clooney has made it clear where the family feels most settled. He told RTL radio that France “is where we’re happiest”.
Hollywood interest in French citizenship grows
Clooney is not the only American filmmaker looking towards France. US director Jim Jarmusch recently said he plans to apply for French citizenship. “I would like a place that will allow me to escape from the United States,” he said, adding that he was also drawn to French culture.
A wave of celebrities leaving the US after 2025
After Donald Trump returned to the presidency in 2025, several well-known American celebrities acted on earlier promises to leave the country. Television host Ellen DeGeneres and her wife Portia de Rossi moved permanently to the Cotswolds in the UK, over fears about possible changes to gay marriage laws.
Comedian Rosie O’Donnell relocated to Ireland for her mental well-being and is now applying for citizenship. Actor Eva Longoria now divides her time between Mexico and Spain, saying Trump’s victory confirmed her decision to live abroad. British actor Sophie Turner returned to the UK, pointing to gun violence and the rollback of Roe v Wade on abortion as major concerns.