Tue, 05 Aug 2025

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 Why Donald Trump is talking about actress Sydney Sweeney

The actress stars in a controversial American Eagle advert that has become a political flashpoint in the US.
President Donald Trump defended actress Sydney Sweeney after she faced backlash over a social media post criticizing her jeans advertisement for American Eagle. Trump praised Sweeney as "a registered Republican" and said her ad was "fantastic". He made his comments on Truth Social, where he wrote: "Sydney Sweeney, a registered Republican, has the HOTTEST ad out there... Go get 'em Sydney!" Sweeney appears in an American Eagle commercial that uses wordplay on the term "genes" to promote its jeans. Some critics accused her of making a joke at the expense of people with different eye colors and hair textures. American Eagle defended the advert, saying it was meant to be about their denim jeans, not about genetics or racial stereotypes. The company released the ad campaign on July 23 and has since seen a surge in sales after Trump's comments. Trump's endorsement has boosted American Eagle's stock by up to 20%. Marketing expert Allen Adamson said the controversy surrounding Sweeney's ad was worth more than what it cost to make, with some people sharing their outrage on social media.
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