George Clooney has responded to President Donald Trump's social media tirade about him gaining French citizenship by weaponising the commander-in-chief's own catchphrase against him.
President Trump's rant about the actor came on New Year's Eve via his Truth Social platform, where he greeted news of the Clooneys' French citizenship as "Good News!" before launching into a lengthy critique.
The president branded Mr Clooney and his wife, Amal Clooney, "two of the worst political prognosticators of all time" and took aim at the actor's Hollywood career.
"Clooney got more publicity for politics than he did for his very few, and totally mediocre, movies," Trump wrote.
George and Amal Clooney have been granted French citizenship
|PA
"He wasn't a movie star at all; he was just an average guy who complained, constantly, about common sense in politics."
The 79-year-old also revisited Mr Clooney's 2024 opinion piece urging Joe Biden to withdraw from the presidential race, accusing the actor of having "dumped" the former president.
Trump concluded his post with his trademark slogan: "MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"
The 64-year-old actor has now issued a pointed statement of his own, telling The Hollywood Reporter: "I totally agree with the current president.
President Trump mocked the Clooneys
| REUTERS"We have to make America great again. We'll start in November."
The remark was widely interpreted as a reference to the upcoming midterm elections, which could fundamentally alter the political landscape of Trump's second term.
Should Democrats secure control of either the House or Senate in November 2026, they would gain significant power to obstruct President Trump's schemes while in power.
The Clooney family, including Mr and Ms Clooney's eight-year-old twins Alexander and Ella, were confirmed as French citizens last week following a naturalisation decree published in France's government gazette.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
The Clooneys are among a growing number of high-profile Americans choosing to leave the country | GETTYThe couple purchased a sprawling 425-acre estate near Brignoles in Provence for $8.3 million in 2021, featuring an 18th-century mansion complete with pool, tennis court, and ornamental lake.
Speaking to RTL radio last month, Mr Clooney explained his reasoning: "Here, they don't take photos of kids. There aren't any paparazzi hidden at the school gates. That's number one for us."
The Kentucky-born star elaborated further in an Esquire interview, expressing concern about raising children amid Hollywood culture.
"France – they kind of don't give a s**t about fame," he said. "I don't want them being compared to somebody else's famous kids."
Clooney has hinted that America needs change from Trump
| GETTYThe public sparring between President Trump and Mr Clooney stretches back years, though the actor recently revealed they were once on friendly terms.
"I knew him very well," Mr Clooney told Variety. "He used to call me a lot, and he tried to help me get into a hospital once to see a back surgeon. I'd see him out at clubs and at restaurants. He's a big goofball. Well, he was. That all changed."
In the same interview, Mr Clooney criticised major American broadcasters for capitulating to legal pressure from Trump.
"If CBS and ABC had challenged those lawsuits and said, 'Go f**k yourself,' we wouldn't be where we are in the country," he argued.
Trump has previously labelled Mr Clooney a "very disloyal backstabber" and "third-rate movie actor" – despite the star's films having grossed over $2 billion throughout his career.