Actor George Clooney has responded to a recent attack from Donald Trump, who criticized Clooney and his wife, Amal, for acquiring French citizenship. On the last day of 2025, Clooney used Trump’s iconic phrase, saying, “We have to make America great again. We’ll start in November.”
This back-and-forth is the latest in a long-standing public disagreement between 64-year-old Clooney and 79-year-old President Trump. On December 31, 2024, Trump posted a lengthy critique on Truth Social, targeting the Clooney family’s recent French citizenship granted by France, which includes their eight-year-old twins, Alexander and Ella.
It seems that Clooney’s reference to November in his response could be hinting at the November 2026 midterm elections, a time when the balance of Congress could shift, potentially changing the political dynamics.
The tension between the two increased after Clooney revealed interesting facts about his past relationship with Trump in an interview with Variety. According to Clooney, he had a close relationship with Trump who frequently called him and once even attempted to help him access a back surgeon in a hospital. They used to meet at clubs and restaurants.
In the same interview, Clooney characterized Trump’s pre-politics persona as a “big goofball,” but noted that this changed once Trump entered the political arena.
These statements provoked Trump to retort on his Truth Social platform, disparaging Clooney’s films as “mediocre” and denying that Clooney was ever a movie star. Trump also labeled Clooney as the “worst political prognosticator” in his post.
Despite Trump’s dismissal, Clooney’s films have grossed over $2 billion, and he has won two Academy Awards and four Golden Globes for his acting and producing efforts, solidifying his status as a successful Hollywood figure.
The Clooneys obtained French citizenship after purchasing a $8.3 million estate in Provence, France, in 2021. The 425-acre property provides the family with a home base in Europe.
In the same Variety interview, Clooney also criticized CBS and ABC for settling lawsuits with Trump, claiming the networks’ actions were detrimental to the nation.
The dispute between Trump and Clooney can be traced back to 2024 when Clooney advised Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race. Trump has cited this incident, accusing Clooney of disloyalty to the former president.
Despite Clooney’s criticism of Trump’s administration, other celebrities, including Kid Rock and Carrie Underwood, have publicly supported Trump. Trump has also enlisted Hollywood figures like Jon Voight, Mel Gibson, and Sylvester Stallone as unofficial Hollywood “envoys,” to advocate for the entertainment industry.
Clooney’s decision to become a French citizen is part of a larger trend of Americans seeking residency or citizenship in other countries, potentially offering their children a respite from the intense media focus prevalent in the United States.
Despite the criticism from Trump, Clooney continues his political activism, often collaborating with his wife Amal on international human rights issues. Their influence in both the entertainment and political arenas makes them a frequent target of conservative politicians and media.
Clooney’s rebuttal on January 1, 2026, reworked Trump’s signature slogan into a call for political change, pointing to the November 2026 midterm elections as a potential turning point.
As 2026 unfolds, the persistent clash between celebrities like Clooney and political figures like Trump illustrates the increasingly blurred distinction between celebrity culture and governance. This exchange showcases how personal relationships can evolve into public political disputes, playing out on social media and traditional news outlets.