President Donald Trump expressed enthusiasm after learning actress Sydney Sweeney is a registered Republican, following controversy over her American Eagle “great jeans” campaign that sparked a political firestorm.
Speaking to reporters in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Trump reacted with humor, saying, “Oh, now I love her ad,” and noting that many Republicans aren’t as publicly visible as people might think.
The ad in question features Sweeney discussing how genes determine traits like hair and eye color before quipping, “My jeans are blue.” The playful pun between “genes” and “jeans” led to accusations from critics who claimed it hinted at racial undertones. Outlets such as Salon suggested that praising someone’s “genes” has historical ties to conventional beauty standards and eugenics.
Conservatives have rallied in Sweeney’s defense, dismissing the criticism as overblown. Vice President JD Vance mocked Democrats on The Ruthless Podcast, joking that their strategy seemed to be labeling anyone who found Sweeney attractive as a Nazi. He called her “a normal, all-American beautiful girl doing a normal jeans ad” and criticized the outrage as self-inflicted.
Senator Ted Cruz also weighed in, suggesting on social media that the “crazy Left” opposing attractive women was a political misstep. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung linked the backlash to broader frustration with cancel culture.
Media personalities echoed this defense. Fox & Friends hosts argued Sweeney was chosen for her market appeal, with anchor Lawrence Jones stating that advertising has always relied on attractive faces to sell products and that the campaign was simply about marketing, not politics.
Bill Maher, on Real Time, ridiculed the outrage, pointing out that the ad’s wordplay was straightforward and accusing “online social justice girls” of hypocrisy.
American Eagle issued a statement clarifying that the “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans” campaign was purely about the clothing, emphasizing that great jeans “look good on everyone.”
Public records show Sweeney registered with the Republican Party in Monroe County, Florida, in June 2024, adding a political twist to an already heated debate over the ad.