At the 83rd annual Golden Globe Awards on January 11th, George Clooney made a quiet yet impactful gesture that some took as a dig at President Donald Trump.
Hosted by comedian Nikki Glaser, the event celebrated the best in film and television over the past year, attracting top celebrities from around the globe to Los Angeles.
The Golden Globe ceremony had some standout moments and notable winners. In the film categories, One Battle After Another and Hamnet claimed the top awards. On the TV side, Netflix’s Adolescence continued its impressive streak of victories.
Though Clooney, 64, was nominated for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy for his role, the award ultimately went to Timothée Chalamet for his performance in Marty Supreme.
Clooney may not have walked away with the trophy, but he still played an important role in the evening by presenting the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Drama alongside actor Don Cheadle. The honor went to Chloé Zhao's Hamnet.
Clooney Speaks French at the Golden Globes
Clooney used his time on stage to speak some French. Recently becoming a French citizen, he greeted the audience in the language, saying: "Bonsoir, mes amis” (“Good evening, my friends”), followed by “C’est un honneur d’être ici” (“It’s an honor to be here”), per PEOPLE.
The actor’s moment at the Golden Globes comes after he and his wife, Amal, 47, along with their eight-year-old twins, Ella and Alexander, officially became French citizens.
The couple, known for their humanitarian efforts and commitment to privacy, purchased a farm in France in 2021, which they now consider their primary residence.
The couple has previously described their decision to raise their children in France as a choice made with their family’s future in mind.
Their citizenship was officially announced in Journal Officiel, the French government’s official publication, in early January. This announcement came shortly after a somewhat scathing remark from President Donald Trump.
Donald Trump's Response to Clooney's French Citizenship
Trump, who has frequently criticized the Clooneys, took to Truth Social on New Year's Eve to respond to the news of their French citizenship.
In a brutal post, he said: “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, much like we had under Sleepy Joe Biden.”
He continued: “Remember when Clooney, after the now infamous debate, dumped Joe during a fundraiser, only to go onto the side of another stellar candidate, Jamala(K!), who is now fighting it out with the worst governor in the Country, including Tim Waltz, Gavin Newscum, for who is going to lead the Democrats to their future defeat.”
Trump didn’t hold back, calling Clooney “just an average guy who complained, constantly, about common sense in politics.” The president wrapped up his post by encouraging his followers to “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Clooney’s Response to Trump’s Remarks
In true Clooney fashion, the actor didn’t shy away from responding to Trump’s harsh words.
Speaking to Deadline, Clooney issued a pointed yet diplomatic response, aligning with a political sentiment that many would interpret as a direct rebuke to Trump.
“I totally agree with the current president. We have to make America great again. We’ll start in November,” Clooney quipped, potentially referencing the upcoming 2026 midterm elections.