- - French Government Says Country Is 'Delighted’ to Welcome George and Amal Clooney as Citizens

Jack SmartJanuary 3, 2026 at 6:04 AM

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Michael Loccisano/WireImage

George Clooney and Amal Clooney at the New York Film Festival premiere of 'Jay Kelly' on Sept. 29, 2025 -

Members of France’s government are reacting to the recent news that George Clooney and his family were granted French citizenship

One interior minister official said George and Amal’s citizenship “sends the wrong message,” while another argued it was “a great opportunity for our country”

The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs said in a statement, “We are delighted, like many French people, to welcome George and Amal Clooney into the national community”

The French government is defending its decision to grant George and Amal Clooney citizenship in France.

The Clooneys “followed a rigorous procedure including security checks, regulatory naturalization interviews at the prefecture, and the payment of tax stamps. We are delighted, like many French people, to welcome George and Amal Clooney into the national community," said the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (also known as Quai d'Orsay) in a statement on Dec. 31.

The statement came after two members of France's government responded to the recent news that George, Amal and their 8-year-old twins, Alexander and Ella, were naturalized as French citizens.

Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, a junior deputy to the interior minister, said in a radio interview on Franceinfo that the Clooneys’ citizenship "sends the wrong message.” Per Variety’s translation, she said it raises an “issue of fairness” and shows some ”double standards” in France’s naturalization procedures.

“I can be very proud that George Clooney is applying for naturalization,” said the official. “It's very good. He lives in France, but I believe we must be careful about the messages we can send.”

Hoda Davaine/Getty for The Clooney Foundation For Justice

Amal Clooney and George Clooney at the Clooney Foundation for Justice's The Albies on Oct. 3, 2025

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But interior minister Laurent Nuñez, who works with Vedrenne, confirmed that George, 64, and Amal, 47, were naturalized “by decree,” from a “decision of the public authority.” Per Le Monde newspaper, Nuñez also said their naturalization was “a great opportunity for our country.”

Politico reported that their naturalization was initiated at the suggestion of the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

President Donald Trump also reacted to the report about the Clooneys’ French citizenship, saying on Truth Social that it was “good news” and calling the couple "two of the worst political prognosticators of all time."

The Jay Kelly actor then responded in a statement first shared with The Hollywood Reporter and obtained by PEOPLE on Jan. 2: “I totally agree with the current president. We have to make America great again. We’ll start in November,” referring to the upcoming midterm elections.

George and Amal have lived in France since purchasing an estate there in 2021. In addition to that country house, the Ocean’s Eleven star owns an estate in England, a villa on Lake Como in Italy and another property near his family in his native Kentucky.

Karwai Tang/WireImage

Amal Clooney and George Clooney at the BFI London Film Festival premiere of 'Jay Kelly' on Oct. 10, 2025

“We live on a farm in France,” the Oscar winner said in an October interview with Esquire about life in Europe with Amal (who he married in 2014 in Italy).

“A good portion of my life growing up was on a farm, and as a kid, I hated the whole idea of it," said George. But for his 8-year-old kids, “they’re not on their iPads, you know? They have dinner with grown-ups and have to take their dishes in. They have a much better life."

George leads Noah Baumbach’s Hollywood comedy-drama Jay Kelly, now streaming on Netflix. Among his upcoming projects is a French one: the Netflix movie continuation of series Dix Pour Cent (Call My Agent!).

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”