US President Donald Trump has thrown his support behind actress Sydney Sweeney upon finding out that the star is a registered Republican.
The Euphoria star has been embroiled in a furor over her appearance in an advertising campaign for denim brand American Eagle, after its wordplay with “jeans” and “genes” sparked allegations of racism.
Trump was asked for his thoughts by a reporter who questioned him about reports revealing that Sweeney is a registered member of the Republican party in Florida after signing up in June last year.
Newsweek has reached out to representatives for Sweeney by email, outside of regular working hours, seeking comment.
AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson and Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
Why It Matters
The actress’s advertising campaign has been subject to a fierce backlash, which has sparked a discourse about eugenics, race, and stereotypical notions of beauty. The issue has proved divisive with some suggesting that the ad plays into racist tropes, while others argue that the slogan is nothing more than a silly pun.
As with so many debates in the US, the issue appears to have split some Americans across party lines, and has now reached the highest levels of government with the President wading in to give his views.
What To Know
Trump made the comments on Sweeney during a chat with reporters by a Marine One aircraft shortly before boarding Air Force One in Allentown, Pennsylvania, on Sunday. He was asked how he felt about the star, after her voter registration was revealed.
“She’s a registered Republican? Oh, now I love her ad!” Trump says, in a video clip of the encounter as he’s questioned by reporters.
He then appears to double-check Sweeney is the actress behind the marketing campaign he’s thinking of, saying: “Is that right, is Sydney Sweeney…?” The reporter replies, “Yeah!”
The president then laughs and adds: “You’d be surprised at how many people are Republicans. That’s what I wouldn’t have known. But I’m glad you told me that. If Sydney Sweeney is a registered Republican, I think her ad is fantastic!”
What People Are Saying
It’s not the first time that the White House has backed the star. Trump’s director of communications Steven Cheung described the American Eagle backlash as “bull****” in a post on social media last week.
While the vice president, JD Vance, mocked those who had been offended, saying: “My political advice to the Democrats is continue to tell everybody who thinks Sydney Sweeney is attractive is a Nazi. That appears to be their actual strategy. […] And the lesson they have apparently taken is, ‘We’re going to attack people as Nazis for thinking Sydney Sweeney is beautiful.’ Great strategy, guys! That’s how you’re going to win the midterm.”
American Eagle has defended its advertising campaign, saying it “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.”
What Happens Next
Sweeney is yet to respond to the controversy surrounding the American Eagle advert, nor has she commented on how she feels to have garnered Trump’s support.
