Trump’s Praise for Sydney Sweeney
President Donald Trump expressed his admiration for Sydney Sweeney’s recent advertising campaign for American Eagle, where he highlighted her as a registered Republican. On Monday, Trump took to Truth Social to proclaim, “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!”
His enthusiasm for Sweeney seemed to momentarily overshadow the public discussion that emerged over her controversial denim campaign. During a media session on Sunday, Trump reacted to revelations about Sweeney’s political affiliation. “She’s a registered Republican? Oh, now I love her ad,” he responded, later adding, “You’d be surprised at how many people are Republicans. That’s what I wouldn’t have known, but I’m glad you told me that. If Sydney Sweeney is a registered Republican, I think her ad is fantastic.”
Critique of Taylor Swift
In contrast, Trump used the same post to criticize pop icon Taylor Swift, whose support for Democratic causes has been a point of contention for him. He wrote, “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.” It’s worth noting that Swift was not actually booed out of the Super Bowl and continues to be one of the most successful artists globally, despite Trump’s ongoing disdain.
Campaign’s Controversial Messaging
Sweeney’s campaign, which has included the pun-filled tagline “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Genes Jeans,” emphasizes her allure. In one ad, Sweeney stated, “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality, and even eye color. My jeans are blue.” The portrayal of a blonde, blue-eyed woman celebrating her “genes” has resulted in mixed reactions, attracting both praise from far-right commentators and criticism from progressive circles.
Responses from the Republican Side
As the campaign sparked debate, some Republicans labeled the criticism as unwarranted. Vice President J.D. Vance remarked on Friday, “So you have a pretty girl doing a jeans ad and they can’t help but freak out. It reveals a lot more about them than it does us. No question.”
Former Fox News host Megyn Kelly also weighed in, stating on her podcast, “We miss attractive people. We’re sick of trying to pretend that these objectively unattractive people are the new beauty standard… We’re sick and fucking tired of the nonsense where you’re not allowed to ever celebrate someone who is white and blond and blue-eyed.”
Company’s Response
Despite the surrounding controversy, neither American Eagle nor Sweeney’s representatives have commented on Trump’s statements. However, American Eagle shared an Instagram post on Friday clarifying their intent: “’Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans’ is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story. We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone.” Trump seems to concur, particularly when it comes to how they look on Republicans.
