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Clooneys Become French Citizens Before New Rules, Drawing Trump Rebuke

The government used a merits-based provision in the civil code for the high-profile grant.

Overview

  • An Official Gazette notice published over the weekend confirmed French nationality for George Clooney, Amal Clooney and their two children.
  • The decree appeared days before stricter immigration measures took effect on January 1, including higher French-language standards and a civics test.
  • President Donald Trump denounced the decision in a Truth Social post that criticized the Clooneys and tied France’s policy to crime.
  • Deputy interior minister Marie‑Pierre Vedrenne publicly questioned perceived double standards, while Interior Minister Laurent Nunez and the Foreign Ministry defended the move.
  • The Clooneys bought a former winery in Brignoles in 2021, and George Clooney has acknowledged limited French despite extensive lessons.