US President Donald Trump recently praised actress Sydney Sweeney, sparking a firestorm of controversy over an advertisement critics have accused of promoting eugenics. The ad, which features Sweeney in a marketing video for American Eagle, has been labeled as divisive and has drawn comparisons to “woke” culture.
The commercial, which was released last week, shows Sweeney wearing the brand’s jeans and making a pun on the words “jeans” and “genes.” While intended to promote the brand’s new denim line, the ad has sparked backlash from critics who claim it implies that certain physical traits are more desirable than others. Some have even accused American Eagle of aligning itself with white nationalist ideology.
Despite the controversy, Trump praised Sweeney’s commercial, saying it was “flying off the shelves” and hailing her as a Republican voter. He also compared her favorably to actress Taylor Swift, whom he previously called “NO LONGER HOT.” In response, high-profile Republicans have rallied around Sweeney, calling her ad a rebuke to “woke” culture.
The backlash against American Eagle has been swift, with the company defending its marketing campaign as simply promoting the jeans. Sydney Sweeney herself has not publicly commented on the controversy.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2025/08/04/american-eagle-stock-jumps-23-after-trump-praises-controversial-sydney-sweeney-ad