Hollywood star George Clooney, his wife Amal and their eight-year-old twins have officially received French citizenship, according to a decree published in France’s government gazette.
The move formalizes the family’s growing ties to France, which the Clooneys now consider their primary home.
Clooney, a longtime Democratic donor and outspoken critic of President Donald Trump, said France’s stringent privacy laws were a decisive factor.
“Here, they don’t take photos of kids. There aren’t any paparazzi hidden at the school gates. That’s number one for us,” he told RTL Radio earlier this month, according to The Post Millennial.
Clooney also noted his admiration for French culture and language, despite only 400 days of study.
The Clooneys’ property holdings span Europe and the U.S.
The couple owns a historic home on Italy’s Lake Como, purchased in 2002, and a manor in England.
In 2021, they acquired Domaine du Canadel, a former wine estate near Brignoles in southern France, which the family now treats as their primary residence.
Clooney told The Hollywood Reporter, “Even though we travel a lot, this is where we’re happiest.”
Amal Clooney, a British-Lebanese human rights lawyer fluent in French, frequently works across Europe. Both parents prioritize shielding their twins from media intrusion.
“I don’t want them being compared to somebody else’s famous kids,” Clooney told Esquire in October.
The couple emphasizes that their decision is motivated by family welfare and privacy rather than politics, according to The Mercury News.
While Clooney has criticized Trump in the past, calling him a “dumb goofball” and opposing his policies, he clarified that relocating the family is not politically driven.
Instead, it reflects the challenges of raising children under constant scrutiny in Hollywood. France’s legal protections allow the twins a childhood largely free from paparazzi harassment.
Clooney’s move also reflects a broader trend among high-profile American entertainers who have publicly opposed Trump and sought foreign citizenship or residency.
Celebrities including Rosie O’Donnell, Ellen DeGeneres and director Jim Jarmusch have relocated to Europe in recent years, citing privacy, lifestyle and cultural preferences, and in some cases, discomfort with U.S. political developments.
Clooney’s family relocation aligns with this pattern, though he emphasizes privacy and family welfare as the primary motivation.
The Clooneys’ dual citizenship formalizes what has effectively been their lifestyle for years.
Despite frequent international travel, the family spends most of their time at their French estate, enjoying a balance of rural living, European culture and freedom from U.S. media scrutiny.
Clooney’s decision highlights growing awareness among public figures of the pressures of fame and the need to protect children from intrusive media.
The Academy Award-winning actor, who maintains multiple homes across continents, emphasized that France offers both personal freedom and a supportive environment for raising his family.
“Our children benefit from a normal childhood here,” he said.
As dual citizens, the Clooneys now have formal recognition from both the U.S. and France, underscoring a deliberate choice to prioritize family privacy, lifestyle and European culture over Hollywood exposure.
Their story reflects how high-profile families increasingly navigate global living arrangements in pursuit of safety, stability, and discretion.
