President Donald Trump weighed in on the Sydney Sweeney drama.
The controversy began with an American Eagle advert starring the 27‑year‑old actress that played on the pun “genes” versus “jeans.” Critics swiftly accused the campaign of echoing eugenic themes by emphasising Sweeney’s blonde hair, blue eyes, and slim figure.
For years, observers have watched trends in celebrity-brand collaborations, but this campaign rapidly became a flashpoint—attracting legal questions, political attention, and cultural backlash.
American Eagle defended the advert, insisting it was about style and self-expression, with statements such as “Great jeans look good on everyone” reiterated publicly after backlash surfaced.
Support came from conservative figures. Vice President J.D. Vance described critics as hysterical and accused them of targeting Sweeney for her appearance on a jeans campaign.
White House Communications Director Stephen Cheung chimed in, calling the backlash “cancel culture run amok.” He added that liberal criticism was one reason voters leaned conservative in recent elections.
Meanwhile social media erupted. TikTok and Instagram creators dissected the ad’s visuals. Some saw subtle glorification of inherited traits, while others defended its fashion-forward aim.
Big names entered the debate. Megyn Kelly called the reaction over-the-top, saying critics were reading racism into a simple jeans promotion.
The drama escalated further when public voter records confirmed Sweeney had registered as a Republican in Florida in June 2024. Her spokesperson has remained silent on political affiliation, though controversy had already begun to form around the ad.
Before this recent confirmation, Sweeney had previously faced scrutiny for inviting conservative iconography at her mother’s 60th birthday party. She later distanced herself, saying photos had been misinterpreted.
News outlets quickly picked up the voter registration detail, with major sites citing records confirming her Republican affiliation.
From there, the story caught flame across media platforms. Pundits analysed campaign strategy, branding choices, and political alignment in equal measure.
And then came Trump’s endorsement.
But not until after he learned her voter registration.
Only then did he express excitement about the campaign—transforming it from fashion ad into political triangle involving Sydney Sweeney, Taylor Swift, and broader American values.
A reporter on Air Force One mentioned her party affiliation.
Trump responded with surprise and praise, saying she made the ad “fantastic.” He added, “You’d be surprised at how many people are Republicans.”
Over the weekend he took to Truth Social with a full cultural manifesto—a stream-of-consciousness post both admiring Sweeney’s campaign and mocking powerhouse pop star Taylor Swift.
Here is the post in full:
“Sydney Sweeney, a registered Republican, has the ‘HOTTEST’ ad out there. It’s for American Eagle, and the jeans are ‘flying off the shelves.’ Go get ’em Sydney!
Or just look at Woke singer Taylor Swift. Ever since I alerted the world as to what she was by saying on TRUTH that I can’t stand her (HATE!). She was booed out of the Super Bowl and became, NO LONGER HOT. The tide has seriously turned – Being WOKE is for losers, being Republican is what you want to be. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
That post ignited fresh debate over marketing ethics, celebrity image use, and partisan symbolism in advertising.
Major outlets like People.com labelled the post a direct cultural shot at Swift, framing it as part of Trump’s ongoing feud with the pop star.
Meanwhile, media analysts flagged momentum on Fox News, which dedicated hours to discussing the ad and Trump’s statement—far surpassing coverage from other networks.
Victoria fashion historians noted chilling undertones in the ad’s visuals—Sweeney in classic blue jeans reclining confidently, paired with imagery tied to genetic messaging.
Critics called it nostalgia, others saw ideological symbolism. The debate continues: Is this a clothing line or a national culture war signal?
Still, American Eagle did not shrink. They reaffirmed that the campaign was, and always has been, about denim—not ideology. “Her jeans. Her story,” they restated.
Sydney Sweeney herself has remained silent—no personal statement, no denial of the Republican registration, no comment on the cultural criticism.
As the controversy washes across more headlines, it’s become a larger conversation about modern celebrity, politics, and marketing strategy.
Donald Trump explicitly named both Sydney Sweeney and Taylor Swift in his Truth Social post. He praised Sweeney’s American Eagle jeans ad as “the hottest,” contrasted it with Swift’s perceived decline, and famously declared:
“The tide has seriously turned – Being WOKE is for losers, being Republican is what you want to be.”
