Actor George Clooney, his spouse Amal Clooney, and their twins Ella and Alexander, 8, have officially become French citizens, as per an official government decree in France dated December 29, 2025.
Although the citizenship was granted recently, the Clooney family had already established France as their residence. They bought a farm in southern France in 2021, where they have been raising their twins.
The French government defended the decision to grant citizenship to the Clooneys on December 31, 2025, against criticism over language requirements. The Foreign Ministry explained that the family qualifies under a French law that permits foreign nationals who significantly contribute to France’s international influence and cultural outreach to be naturalized. This statement was in response to concerns voiced by Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, a junior minister at the Interior Ministry, regarding potential perceptions of preferential treatment, especially since George Clooney confessed to having poor French language skills. It was clarified that Amal Clooney was granted citizenship under her maiden name, Amal Alamuddin, and the family’s naturalization was approved just before stricter language requirements were implemented on January 1, 2026.
George Clooney has publicly expressed why he believes France offers a superior environment for his children, particularly due to its robust privacy laws that restrict paparazzi. In a December interview with RTL Radio, Clooney highlighted the security these laws afford. “Here, they don’t take photos of kids,” Clooney stated. “There aren’t any paparazzi hidden at the school gates. That’s number one for us.”
France’s anti-paparazzi laws were reinforced in 2000, three years following the death of Princess Diana. The laws mandate parental consent for publishing pictures of minors, and violations incur civil penalties.
In an October 2024 interview with Esquire magazine, Clooney expressed his belief that his children enjoy a better quality of life in France compared to the United States. “I was worried about raising our kids in L.A., in the culture of Hollywood. I felt like they were never going to get a fair shake at life,” he stated.
The actor further explained that the culture in France offers a respite from the celebrity-focused atmosphere of Hollywood. He noted his desire to protect his children from the constant worry about paparazzi and comparisons to other celebrity children.
While Amal Clooney, 47, is proficient in French due to her profession as an international human rights lawyer, George has been actively trying to learn the language. In a December 2024 radio interview, he humorously confessed to struggling with French despite taking courses for 400 days.
Former President Donald Trump commented on the Clooneys’ new citizenship status on December 31, 2025, posting on Truth Social: “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, much like we had under Sleepy Joe Biden.”
Trump’s remarks followed an interview with Clooney published in Variety, where the actor reminisced about being friendly with Trump before his political career, describing him as “a big goofball.” Clooney has consistently criticized Trump and penned a New York Times op-ed in July 2024 advising President Biden to withdraw from the presidential race.
The Clooneys have emphasized their decision to pursue French citizenship mainly as a move to safeguard their family’s privacy and offer their children a more grounded upbringing, rather than a political statement.
In addition to valuing privacy, Clooney has mentioned how living on a farm in France helps keep his children grounded. Although they maintain ties to the United States due to George’s ongoing involvement in the entertainment industry, the acquired citizenship signifies a substantial commitment to their life in France.
