Washington, D.C. — Former President Donald Trump has come under criticism for appearing to elevate actress Sydney Sweeney over his wife, Melania Trump, after enthusiastically endorsing Sweeney’s controversial American Eagle marketing campaign.
During a chance exchange with reporters, Trump praised the 27-year-old starlet after learning she is a registered Republican, calling her ad the “HOTTEST ad out there.” Critics seized on the remarks, contrasting the public flirtation with his marriage to former First Lady Melania Trump.
🔥 Praise for Sweeney, Scrutiny of Melania
Trump first commented on Sweeney during a press gaggle, lauding the ad once he found out about her GOP affiliation. He repeatedly shared the compliment on Truth Social—despite misspelling her name initially as “Sidney”.
Culture-war messaging: He used the moment to slam brands he labels as “woke,” including Jaguar and Bud Light, and to criticize pop star Taylor Swift, declaring her “no longer hot” in comparison to Sweeney.
🧥 The Ad Controversy & Political Backlash
The American Eagle campaign—using wordplay between “genes” and “jeans,” with visuals highlighting Sweeney’s blonde hair and blue eyes—sparked accusations of racist or eugenic overtones. Social media users compared the visuals to “Nazi propaganda,” and critics argued the messaging catered to white supremacist aesthetics.
Despite the backlash, American Eagle defended the campaign as celebrating denim and individuality. Trump’s praise, along with growing conservative support, led to a nearly 25% surge in the company’s stock.
Prominent conservative voices—including Vice President JD Vance, Megyn Kelly, and Senator Ted Cruz—have backed Sweeney, characterizing negative reactions as instances of “cancel culture run amok”.
