The US President Donald Trump has spoken in support of actress Sydney Sweeney after her advert for American Eagle received criticism on social media.
On August 4, Trump posted on Truth Social: «Sydney Sweeney, a registered Republican, has the HOTTEST ad out there. Go get ’em Sydney!»
Sweeney, known for her roles in Euphoria and The White Lotus, appears in a new American Eagle advert that was released on 23 July. In it, she says:
«Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair colour, personality and even eye colour. My jeans are blue.»
The advert uses a play on words between «genes» (from biology) and «jeans» (the clothing). The slogan «Sydney Sweeney has great jeans» was shown on TV, social media and store windows.
Some people online did not like the wordplay. They said using this line for a blue-eyed, blonde actress reminded them of eugenics, an old, rejected idea that some people are better than others because of their genes.
However, many others defended Sweeney and said the criticism was too much.
Political discussion adds fuel to the reaction
Soon after, some media outlets shared that Sweeney is a registered Republican in Florida. Although she has not confirmed this herself, Trump responded to the news by saying:
«If Sydney Sweeney is a registered Republican, I think her ad is fantastic.»
Trump says Sydney Sweeney's American Eagle ad is «fantastic» after learning she’s a registered Republican.
— Samantha Waldenberg (@Sam_Waldenberg) August 4, 2025
(According to Florida voter registration records viewed by CNN, Sweeney registered with the Republican Party on June 16, 2024, prior to November’s presidential election.) pic.twitter.com/awu2q7Xa5I
American Eagle explained that the ad is only about fashion. «Her jeans. Her story,» the company said. «We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way.»
Despite the controversy, American Eagle’s stock price rose quickly, up by as much as 20% after Trump supported the ad.
Experts say the advert is a marketing success
Marketing expert Allen Adamson said the ad was successful because it got people talking. He explained that it is hard to get attention today, but this advert stood out, even if people had different opinions about it.
He also said the attention on social media could be worth 10 or 20 times more than what the company spent to create the advert.
This is not the first time Sweeney’s political views have made headlines. In 2023, pictures from her mother’s birthday party showed some guests wearing «Make America Great Again» hats. People online reacted strongly.
Sweeney replied: «Stop making assumptions» and said it was just an «innocent celebration,» not a political statement.
Later, in an interview with GQ, she said: «Honestly, I feel like nothing I say can help the conversation. It’s been turning into a wildfire, and nothing I can say will take it back to the correct track.»
Speaking to reporters, Trump said: «You’d be surprised at how many people are Republicans.» When he heard Sweeney might be one of them, he said: «That’s what I wouldn’t have known, but I’m glad you told me that.»
Before Trump made his comments, the story was already getting attention in conservative media. Some even said it was not just a win for American Eagle, but also good for the Republican Party.
