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Trump defends Sydney Sweeney: ‘Now I love her ad’

The US president enthusiastically comments on the actress’s Republican registration, which has been mired in controversy over the American Eagle commercial

‘She’s a registered Republican? Oh, now I love her ad.’ This was US President Donald Trump’s reaction to the news that actress Sydney Sweeney, known for her role in the series Euphoria, has been registered with the Florida Republican Party in Monroe County since June 2024. Her membership immediately attracted media attention at a delicate time for the actress.

During a press conference, Trump added with satisfaction: ‘You’d be surprised how many people are Republicans. I wouldn’t have known that, but I’m glad you told me.’ The reference is to the recent advertising campaign for the American Eagle brand, which featured Sweeney in a commercial that was heavily criticised on social media for its racially ambiguous tone.

In the promotional video, the actress – blonde, Caucasian and blue-eyed – addresses the issue of genetic inheritance, playing on the double meaning of the English words “jeans” and “genes”: “Genes are passed from parents to their offspring, often determining traits such as hair colour, personality and even eye colour”. A seemingly innocuous phrase, but one that sparked accusations of reinforcing stereotypes related to the genetic superiority of certain ethnic traits.

Many users accused the brand of excluding diversity by choosing a female image that reflects a racially selective aesthetic standard. The controversy intensified after the discovery of Sweeney’s political affiliation, which for some reinforced the perception of an implicitly conservative message.

Trump’s support now risks turning the affair into a full-blown political and cultural issue in an already heated election climate. The actress faces a complex phase: while she has the support of the president and part of the conservative electorate, she finds herself at the centre of a storm that intertwines fashion, race and political ideology in an America increasingly divided over what can be said – or worn – in public.

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