Trump Backs Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle Ad After Republican Reveal: “Go Get ’Em Sydney!”

Donald Trump praises Sydney Sweeney’s “Great Jeans” campaign following confirmation of her GOP registration, reigniting debate over celebrity politics, brand messaging, and America’s cultural divide.

Sydney Sweeney, the Emmy-nominated star of Euphoria and Anyone But You, has found an unlikely political ally in former President Donald Trump. Following reports that the actress is a registered Republican, Trump offered his enthusiastic support for her controversial American Eagle campaign, proclaiming, “Go get ’em Sydney!”

In recent weeks, Sweeney’s “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans” campaign with American Eagle has stirred both admiration and backlash online, with critics alleging that the wordplay hinted at eugenics ideology. Despite the criticism, the campaign has been commercially successful—reportedly helping denim sales soar for the brand.

When informed of Sweeney’s political affiliation by a CNN reporter on Sunday while boarding Air Force One in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Trump responded with typical flair:

“She’s a registered Republican? Oh, now I love her ad!” he said. “You’d be surprised at how many people are Republicans. That’s one I wouldn’t have known. But I’m glad you told me that.”

The former president doubled down on his endorsement via Truth Social the next day, writing:

“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!”
He concluded: “Being WOKE is for losers, being Republican is what you want to be.”

The endorsement came after Entertainment Weekly confirmed that Sweeney registered as a Republican in Florida on June 14, 2024. This political revelation has added a new layer to the scrutiny Sweeney has faced in recent years, particularly following the 2022 controversy over her mother’s 60th birthday party, where guests were seen wearing MAGA-themed attire. At the time, Sweeney distanced herself from the photos, stating the individuals weren’t her family members but her mom’s friends.

In interviews, Sweeney has openly discussed feeling politically misunderstood—caught between her conservative upbringing in Spokane County, Washington, and the progressive culture of Hollywood.

“When I go home, my family doesn’t understand me or the world I’m in anymore,” she told British GQ in 2022. “But then in this industry, my home and the place that grounds me is so vastly different to how people live there. I’m in this in-between place where I feel like neither side understands me.”

American Eagle, for its part, released a statement on August 1 defending the campaign:

“‘Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans’ is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans, her story,” the brand stated. “We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone.”

Public reaction has been split. Some critics slammed the campaign as “tone-deaf,” while others rallied behind the brand for refusing to back down. On TikTok, content creators dissected the messaging, with many pointing to Sweeney’s appearance—blonde, white, blue-eyed—as problematic within the context of the “great genes” pun.

Conversely, conservative commentators and political figures have embraced the campaign. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung and media figure Megyn Kelly voiced support, while Vice President JD Vance used the controversy to criticize Democrats during a recent Ruthless podcast appearance.

“A pretty girl does a jeans ad and they can’t help but freak out,” Vance said. “It reveals a lot more about them than it does us.”

“The lesson [Democrats] have apparently taken is: we’re going to attack people as Nazis for thinking Sydney Sweeney is beautiful,” he continued. “Great strategy, guys. That’s how you’re going to win the midterm, especially young American men.”

Despite the controversy—or perhaps because of it—Sydney Sweeney’s campaign has become a flashpoint in America’s ongoing cultural and political wars. Whether viewed as a fashion statement or a political Rorschach test, one thing’s clear: Sweeney and her jeans are center stage in more ways than one.