Actor George Clooney, his wife Amal Clooney, an international human rights lawyer, and their twins, Ella and Alexander, aged 8, have become French citizens, according to a recent decree in an official French government gazette dated December 29, 2025.
The Clooneys, despite officially becoming French citizens only recently, have been living in France since 2021. They bought a farm in the southern region of the country, where they have been raising their twins.
On December 31, 2025, the French government justified the grant of citizenship to the Clooneys amidst criticism over language requirements. According to the Foreign Ministry statement, the family qualified under a French law that permits naturalization of foreign nationals who “contribute, through their distinguished actions, to France’s international influence and cultural outreach.” This statement was in response to concerns voiced by Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, a junior minister at the Interior Ministry, regarding perceived special treatment for the Clooneys. The government also stated that Amal Clooney was naturalized under her maiden name, Amal Alamuddin, and affirmed that the family’s citizenship was granted just before the implementation of stricter language requirements on January 1, 2026.
In a radio interview with RTL Radio in early December, George Clooney lauded France’s strict privacy laws, which he believes provides a safer environment for his children. “Here, they don’t take photos of kids,” he said. “There aren’t any paparazzi hidden at the school gates. That’s number one for us.”
France enhanced its anti-paparazzi laws in 2000, three years following the death of Princess Diana. These laws necessitate parental consent for publishing photos of minors and impose civil penalties for violations.
George Clooney expressed to Esquire magazine in October 2024 that he believes his children have a better life in France than they would in 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 said.
The actor has also praised France’s culture for offering a respite from Hollywood’s celebrity-focused environment. He mentioned that he does not want his children to be constantly wary of paparazzi or feel compared to other famous children.
While Amal Clooney, 47, is proficient in French due to her professional obligations, George Clooney has been striving to learn the language. Despite having taken 400 days of French courses, he admits to struggling with the language, but remains appreciative of French culture.
Former US President Donald Trump reacted to the Clooneys’ citizenship news on December 31, 2025, via a post 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 were in response to Clooney’s previous statements about Trump in a Variety interview, where he referred to him as “a big goofball.” Clooney has been openly critical of Trump’s political career and had previously urged President Biden to withdraw from the presidential race in a New York Times op-ed in July 2024.
The Clooneys have primarily presented their decision to obtain French citizenship as a means to secure their family’s privacy and ensure a more balanced upbringing for their children, rather than a political stance.
Apart from privacy concerns, Clooney has shared that living on a farm in France helps keep his twins grounded. While they maintain ties to the United States through George Clooney’s ongoing work in the entertainment industry, their French citizenship signifies a significant commitment to their life in France.
