President Donald Trump expressed strong support for actress Sydney Sweeney’s controversial American Eagle jeans advertisement after discovering she is a registered Republican, dramatically shifting his stance on the campaign that has sparked widespread debate over alleged racial undertones.
Trump learned of Sweeney’s political affiliation on Sunday, August 3, when a reporter informed him while he was departing Allentown, Pennsylvania. His immediate reaction was enthusiastic, stating that he now loves her advertisement and finds it fantastic. The President indicated his surprise at learning about her Republican registration, noting that many people would be surprised at how many individuals are Republicans.
Public records reviewed by multiple news outlets confirm that the 27-year-old “Euphoria” actress registered to vote as a Republican in Florida in June 2024. The revelation emerged amid ongoing criticism of her American Eagle campaign, which launched on July 23.
On Monday, August 4, Trump escalated his praise on Truth Social, describing Sweeney’s advertisement as the “hottest” ad available. He claimed the jeans are flying off the shelves and encouraged her success. The President’s endorsement reportedly contributed to American Eagle stock surging by 15 percent, according to business reports.
The advertising campaign, titled “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans,” features the actress making wordplay between “genes” and “jeans.” In the promotional content, Sweeney explains that genes are passed down from parents to offspring, determining traits like hair color, personality and eye color, before declaring, “My jeans are blue.”
Critics have accused the campaign of containing offensive racial undertones and references to eugenics, particularly noting Sweeney’s blonde hair and blue eyes in conjunction with the genetic messaging. Social media users compared the advertisement to Nazi propaganda and described it as a racialized message. The controversy intensified when some viewed the campaign as promoting Western beauty standards and genetic superiority concepts.
Vice President JD Vance also defended Sweeney on Friday, August 1, describing her as an all-American beautiful girl during a podcast appearance. He criticized Democrats for their reaction to the advertisement, suggesting they were calling anyone who finds Sweeney attractive a Nazi. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas previously shared revealing images from the campaign, drawing accusations of inappropriate behavior.
Trump’s Monday social media post expanded beyond Sweeney to criticize what he termed “woke” advertising campaigns. He specifically targeted Jaguar’s previous advertisement campaign, claiming it was a disaster that led to executive resignations and company turmoil. The President also referenced Bud Light’s controversial campaign, suggesting both companies suffered significant financial losses due to their marketing approaches.
The President also attacked singer Taylor Swift in the same post, claiming he was responsible for her declining popularity. Trump asserted that Swift was booed at the Super Bowl and became “no longer hot” after he expressed his dislike for her on Truth Social. Swift had previously endorsed Trump’s opponent, Kamala Harris, in the 2024 presidential election.
American Eagle responded to the backlash on Friday, August 1, with a statement clarifying that the campaign was always about jeans and Sweeney’s story. The company emphasized that great jeans look good on everyone, attempting to distance itself from interpretations about genetic superiority or racial messaging.
Sweeney has not publicly addressed the controversy surrounding her advertisement. She was spotted at the “Americana” premiere on Sunday, August 3, in Los Angeles, where she was reportedly heckled about the campaign. A video obtained by media outlets showed a woman shouting at her about the advertisement being racist, though Sweeney did not respond to the heckler.
The actress previously faced scrutiny regarding her political views in 2022 when photos from a birthday party she organized for her mother showed guests wearing items resembling political merchandise. Sweeney later explained to Variety that the guests were her mother’s friends from Los Angeles and that the items were meant as jokes, clarifying that some of the guests’ children participate in Pride parades.
A YouGov poll surveying over 3,500 American adults found that 52 percent of respondents considered the advertisement’s wordplay appropriate, while 16 percent found it inappropriate. The poll revealed generational differences, with only 36 percent of respondents aged 18 to 29 finding the campaign appropriate, compared to more than 50 percent in older age categories.
