Trump Supports Sydney Sweeney Over Ad Backlash

Actress Sydney Sweeney, who is known for her roles in popular TV shows like Euphoria and The White Lotus, has recently found herself at the center of an unexpected controversy. It all started after she appeared in a new jeans advertisement for the clothing brand American Eagle. The ad features a clever wordplay on "genes" and "jeans", which some people on social media found offensive or problematic. As the online debate grew, former US President Donald Trump publicly supported the actress, further fueling interest in the situation.

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What Is the Advertisement All About?

On July 23, 2025, American Eagle launched a fresh advertising campaign featuring Sydney Sweeney. The ad quickly gained attention across television screens, social media platforms, and even on large posters outside of American Eagle stores.

In the video advertisement, Sydney Sweeney says a line that goes: “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair colour, personality and even eye colour. My jeans are blue.”

This line is clearly a pun — a play on words — comparing biological “genes” that people inherit from their parents to the denim “jeans” she is wearing. The slogan "Sydney Sweeney has great jeans" was used widely across the campaign.

At first glance, the ad seemed light-hearted and fashion-focused. But soon, it became a topic of heated discussion on the internet.

Why Did People Get Upset?

Shortly after the ad began to air, several people on social media platforms criticized it. The main issue came from the wordplay between “genes” and “jeans.” Some people claimed that the use of “great genes” — especially when said about a blonde-haired, blue-eyed actress — sounded too close to old ideas related to eugenics.

What is eugenics? Eugenics is a harmful and outdated belief that certain human traits — like intelligence or appearance — are better than others and that humanity could be improved by “selectively breeding” people with those traits. It is a theory that has caused great harm in the past and is now widely rejected by scientists and societies.

Critics argued that the ad's joke was insensitive, especially since it might sound like it praises certain racial or physical features over others. They thought the ad unintentionally promoted beauty standards that are not inclusive.

However, not everyone agreed with this criticism. Many people defended Sydney Sweeney and said that the outrage was unnecessary and overblown. They saw the ad as nothing more than a pun about denim jeans — something common in fashion marketing.

What Did American Eagle Say?

As the online discussion grew, American Eagle stepped in to respond. They made it clear that the advertisement was never about eugenics or race. According to the company, the ad was entirely about their jeans and how Sydney Sweeney wears them with style and confidence.

Here is what American Eagle said in their official statement: “Her jeans. Her story. We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way.”

They stood by their decision to run the campaign and praised Sydney Sweeney for being a confident individual who connects with young fashion fans.

How Did Donald Trump React?

Once reports surfaced that Sydney Sweeney is a registered Republican voter in Florida, the situation took a political turn. Former President Donald Trump took notice of the backlash and made a public statement supporting her.

In a post on his Truth Social platform on Monday, Trump said: “Sydney Sweeney, a registered Republican, has the HOTTEST ad out there. Go get ‘em Sydney!”

Later, when he was speaking to reporters, he added: “You’d be surprised at how many people are Republicans. If Sydney Sweeney is a registered Republican, I think her ad is fantastic.”

This comment sparked even more attention, especially from conservative media outlets that began to discuss how the advertisement might even help bring attention to the Republican party, not just to the American Eagle brand.

Is Sydney Sweeney a Republican?

According to public records, Sydney Sweeney has been registered as a Republican in the state of Florida since 2024. However, she has not publicly spoken about her political views or supported any political candidates.

This isn’t the first time Sweeney has been linked to political controversy. In 2023, during her mother’s birthday party, photos and videos were shared online that showed guests wearing red hats with the slogan “Make America Great Again.” These hats are closely connected with Trump’s presidential campaigns.

At that time, Sydney posted on social media asking people to stop making assumptions. She said the celebration was meant to be a fun family moment, not a political statement.

In an interview after the event, 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.”

This shows how cautious Sydney has been about discussing politics publicly.

What Happened to American Eagle's Business?

Interestingly, all the attention — both good and bad — has actually helped American Eagle. Since Trump spoke out about the advertisement, the company’s stock value increased and at one point went up by 20%.

Marketing expert Allen Adamson from a company called Metaforce said American Eagle did a great job with the campaign. He explained that in today’s world, getting people to talk and share an ad is more important than ever.

He said: “Success in marketing today is to get consumers sharing [advertisements] on social media. But they have to be extraordinary, whether that's extraordinarily good or extraordinarily bad.”

He added that the buzz created by the ad was worth 10 or 20 times the amount of money American Eagle probably spent to make it.

The story of Sydney Sweeney and the American Eagle ad is about much more than fashion. It shows how a simple ad can turn into a national conversation involving beauty, race, politics, and freedom of expression.

What started as a playful jeans commercial ended up sparking a bigger discussion on social media, leading to opinions from celebrities, companies, and even a former U.S. president.

As for Sydney Sweeney, she has chosen not to speak out again about the backlash. She seems to prefer staying out of political fights and focusing on her acting and career. Whether people love the ad or hate it, it’s clear that it got the world talking — and that’s often what advertisements are designed to do.