George Clooney ditches US, gains French citizenship for family

Democrat donor George Clooney, a longtime critic of President Donald Trump, has been granted French citizenship along with his wife, Amal Clooney, and their two children, according to an official decree published in France’s government gazette.

The decision formalizes Clooney’s growing ties to France, which he has increasingly described as his family’s primary home. Earlier this month, Clooney publicly praised France’s privacy laws, particularly protections that shield children from paparazzi and intrusive media coverage.

“Here, they don’t take photos of kids. There aren’t any paparazzi hidden at the school gates. That’s number one for us,” Clooney told RTL radio. He added, “I love the French culture, your language, even if I’m still bad at it after 400 days of courses.”

Clooney, who now holds dual US-French citizenship, has maintained residences across Europe for more than two decades. He purchased a home on Italy’s Lake Como in 2002 and later acquired a historic manor in England. In 2021, Clooney and his wife bought a former wine estate in southern France, the Domaine du Canadel, near Brignoles.

The couple also owns property in New York and Kentucky, though reports indicate they sold homes in Los Angeles and Mexico in recent years. Clooney said France has become their preferred base despite frequent international travel.

“Even though we travel a lot, this is where we’re happiest,” he said.

Amal Clooney, a British-Lebanese human rights lawyer, speaks fluent French and frequently works across Europe. The couple are parents to eight-year-old twins.

Clooney has been an outspoken opponent of President Trump for years, publicly backing Democratic candidates and fundraising for their campaigns. He criticized Trump’s presidency on immigration, media, and democratic institutions and supported impeachment efforts during Trump’s first term.