US President
Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Paris was welcome to Hollywood star
George Clooney after the actor got French citizenship - and took the opportunity to bash France, too.
Trump, whose administration has backed anti-immigration parties in Europe, said key ally France had a "horrendous" problem with crime and immigration.
An official decree seen by AFP on Monday showed that 64-year-old Oscar winner Clooney, his wife Amal Alamuddin Clooney and their two children had become French citizens.
Tump reacts to Clooney's French citizenship
"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," Trump said on his Truth Social network.
In one of a string of posts on New Year's Eve, Trump added that France's alleged problems were "much like we had under Sleepy Joe Biden," his Democratic predecessor.
"Oceans Eleven" star Clooney is a long-term Democratic supporter and fundraiser, and a vocal critic of Trump.
In his social media post, Trump recalled the fact that the actor backed Biden during the 2024 US presidential election but then "dumped" him becoming concerned about the Democrat's age during a fundraising event he hosted.
"Clooney got more publicity for politics than he did for his very few, and totally mediocre, movies. He wasn't a movie star at all, he was just an average guy who complained, constantly, about common sense in politics," Trump said.
Clooney's citizenship raises eyebrows
Clooney's newly acquired citizenship has also raised hackles in France.
A junior member of President Emmanuel Macron's government Wednesday criticized Clooney getting his passport despite speaking poor French, saying the move suggested a "double standard."
The news comes ahead of language requirements for citizenship being toughened for everyone else under new immigration rules from January 1.
French government reacts to Clooney's citizenship
Actor George Clooney and his wife Amal Clooney were granted French citizenship because “they contribute, through their distinguished actions, to France’s international influence and cultural outreach,” the French government said Wednesday, defending their naturalization that was questioned by a junior French minister.
Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, a junior minister at the Interior Ministry, expressed misgivings Wednesday that some of the Clooneys' new French compatriots may think that the star couple was granted special treatment. The actor speaks only what he himself says is “horrible, horrible" French.
“The message being sent is not good,” Vedrenne said in an interview with broadcaster France Info. “There is an issue of fairness that, in my eyes, is absolutely essential.”
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The TOI Entertainment Desk is a dynamic and dedicated team of jou...
Read MoreThe TOI Entertainment Desk is a dynamic and dedicated team of journalists, working tirelessly to bring the pulse of the entertainment world straight to the readers of The Times of India. No red carpet goes unrolled, no stage goes dark - our team spans the globe, bringing you the latest scoops and insider insights from Bollywood to Hollywood, and every entertainment hotspot in between. We don't just report; we tell tales of stardom and stories untold. Whether it's the rise of a new sensation or the seasoned journey of an industry veteran, the TOI Entertainment Desk is your front-row seat to the fascinating narratives that shape the entertainment landscape. Beyond the breaking news, we present a celebration of culture. We explore the intersections of entertainment with society, politics, and everyday life.
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