What did Sydney Sweeney say about the American Eagle jeans controversy and Trump’s reaction?

Actress Sydney Sweeney has, for the first time, spoken in depth about her campaign with American Eagle and the strong public reaction that followed. The campaign, titled "Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans," sparked a wide debate earlier this year. Many people online treated the ad's word-play, "jeans" and "genes" as a sign of deeper racial or gender messages. Sweeney says she was surprised, but says the controversy did not change how she sees herself.

Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump weighed in publicly, offering strong praise for the ad once he learned that Sweeney is registered as a Republican. Trump’s comments added a political layer to what began as a brand campaign.

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Sydney Sweeney's comments on the campaign and backlash

In her interview with GQ Magazine, Sydney Sweeney said,

"I did a jean ad. I mean, the reaction definitely was a surprise, but I love jeans. All I wear are jeans. I’m literally in jeans and a T-shirt every day of my life… I knew at the end of the day what that ad was for, and it was great jeans, it didn’t affect me one way or the other."

Sweeney also said she did not feel compelled to issue a formal defence when the backlash first hit.

"I’ve always believed that I’m not here to tell people what to think. I know who I am. I know what I value. I know that I’m a kind person."

She further said,

"I know that I love a lot, and I know that I’m just excited to see what happens next. And so I don’t really let other people define who I am."

On how she handled the public noise, Sweeney said,

"I kind of just put my phone away. I was filming every day. I’m filming ‘Euphoria,’ so I’m working 16-hour days and I don’t really bring my phone on set, so I work and then I go home and I go to sleep. So I didn’t really see a lot of it."

She also referenced the business side of the campaign. She noted she heard that American Eagle's stock rose despite headlines saying store visits had fallen. She said of the negative claims,

"I was aware of the numbers as it was going. So when I saw all the headlines of in-store visits were down a certain percentage, none of it was true. It was all made up, but nobody could say anything because [the company was] in their quiet period."

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Donald Trump's reaction and political layer

The ad campaign entered a political dimension when Donald Trump publicly praised it. At a press event in August, after news emerged that Sydney Sweeney is a registered Republican, Trump said,

"She’s a registered Republican? Oh, now I love her ad! You’d be surprised at how many people are Republicans… If Sydney Sweeney is a registered Republican, I think her ad is fantastic!"

On his social media platform, Trump also declared,

"Sydney Sweeney, a registered Republican, has the HOTTEST ad out there. Go get ’em Sydney."

He added:

"Being WOKE is for losers, being Republican is what you want to be."

As the brand responded to the backlash, American Eagle issued a statement saying,

"Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans' is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story. We'll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone."

Sydney Sweeney also said that it feels "surreal" to know that President Donald Trump has praised her work and supported her work.

The wider context shows that the campaign's word-play and visuals triggered debate about beauty standards, race, and advertising strategy. Some saw the "great genes/jeans" phrasing as referencing genetic traits and white norms of beauty, while others said the backlash itself was part of larger cultural battles.

In all, Sydney Sweeney says she remains grounded, focusing on her work and not letting external noise define her. She acknowledges the ad drew attention and created political commentary, but she emphasizes that her role was simply to promote jeans she likes. While Donald Trump's direct praise gave the campaign further public visibility, Sweeney puts that aside and continues with her acting projects.