US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said France was welcome to Hollywood actor George Clooney after he and his family obtained French citizenship, while also criticising the country’s handling of crime and immigration.

According to details, Trump, whose administration has supported anti-immigration movements in Europe, said France faced a “horrendous” situation linked to crime and immigration policies.

Mpreover, an official decree seen earlier this week confirmed that 64-year-old Oscar winner Clooney, his wife Amal Alamuddin Clooney and their two children had been granted 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 middle of a major crime problem because of its absolutely horrendous handling of immigration,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

In a series of posts on New Year’s Eve, Trump added that France’s alleged problems were similar to those he said existed in the United States under former president Joe Biden.

Clooney, a long-time supporter and fundraiser for the Democratic Party, has been a vocal critic of Trump.

In his post, Trump referred to Clooney’s support for Biden during the 2024 presidential election, before withdrawing that support after expressing concerns about Biden’s age at a fundraising event hosted by the actor.

Trump also criticised Clooney’s film career, claiming the actor received more attention for his political views than for his films.

Clooney’s French citizenship has also drawn criticism within France. A junior member of President Emmanuel Macron’s government questioned the decision, pointing to the actor’s limited command of the French language and describing it as a “double standard”.

The development comes as France prepares to enforce stricter language requirements for citizenship applicants under new immigration rules introduced from January 1.