In yet another pop culture-politics crossover moment, U.S. President Donald Trump has reignited online debate after praising actress Sydney Sweeney’s latest ad campaign while taking fresh swipes at pop superstar Taylor Swift and so-called “woke” marketing.
Sweeney, known for her breakout roles in Euphoria and The White Lotus, recently starred in a cheeky new ad for American Eagle that plays on the pun: “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Genes.” The denim campaign, while commercially successful, faced criticism online for allegedly echoing problematic narratives about beauty standards and genetics.
But one person who clearly loved the campaign? Donald Trump.
“Sydney Sweeney, a registered Republican, has the ‘HOTTEST’ ad out there,” Trump declared on his social media platform Truth Social on Monday, August 4. “It’s for American Eagle, and the jeans are ‘flying off the shelves.’ Go get ‘em, Sydney!”
Trump’s endorsement of the 26-year-old actress quickly turned political, as he contrasted the American Eagle campaign with other corporate marketing efforts that have faced backlash from conservative circles.
“Remember what happened to Bud Light and Jaguar?” he wrote. “They went woke—and they went broke.”
Then came another jab at longtime Trump critic Taylor Swift.
“Or just look at woke singer Taylor Swift,” Trump continued. “Ever since I told the world I couldn’t stand her (HATE!), she was booed at the Super Bowl and is no longer hot. Being WOKE is for losers. Being Republican is what you want to be.”
Trump’s remarks refer to a moment during this year’s Super Bowl when Swift, attending the event to support partner Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs, received mixed reactions from fans. While some viewers booed, others cheered, highlighting the politically charged aura now surrounding Swift.
The Grammy-winning artist has been increasingly vocal about her politics in recent years, endorsing Democratic candidates and calling out Trump for what she describes as divisive rhetoric. She even backed Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, shortly after Trump’s campaign circulated a now-debunked AI-generated image of Swift allegedly endorsing him.
As for Sweeney, the actress has remained silent about both the backlash to the American Eagle campaign and Trump’s enthusiastic approval. American Eagle issued a brief clarification, stating the ad was “a creative play on words celebrating individuality and denim.”
The renewed clash between Trump and Swift, along with the political overtones surrounding Sweeney’s ad, underscores how celebrity culture remains a powerful—and polarizing—tool in American politics. With the 2028 presidential campaign season approaching, the battleground isn’t just in rallies and debates. Increasingly, it’s also on red carpets, social feeds, and yes—even in jean ads.