In a GQ interview published Nov. 4, 2025, actress Sydney Sweeney described support from President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance for her American Eagle campaign as “surreal,” and said headlines about falling in‑store visits were untrue.
The American Eagle campaign featuring Sydney Sweeney drew intense debate after its late‑July debut, leaning on a wordplay between “genes” and “jeans.” One widely shared clip includes Sweeney saying, “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring… My jeans are blue.” American Eagle later said the campaign “is and always was about the jeans,” not genetics. Critics argued the messaging echoed eugenics; others said it was a straightforward denim ad. (apnews.com)
In her first extended comments on the backlash, Sweeney told GQ the reaction “was a surprise,” adding, “I did a jean ad,” and that the attention from Trump and Vance felt “surreal.” She said she avoided most online discourse while filming and prefers to speak only when she has “an issue” to address. (gq.com)
Sweeney also pushed back on reports that the campaign hurt store traffic. “When I saw all the headlines of in‑store visits were down… none of it was true,” she said, noting American Eagle was in a pre‑earnings quiet period. Third‑party analytics cited by trade outlets, however, reported American Eagle’s in‑store visits fell about 4% year‑over‑year the week of July 27 and about 9% the week of Aug. 3, figures the company did not confirm. (gq.com)
Trump praised the ad in early August after a reporter told him Sweeney is reportedly registered as a Republican in Florida. “She’s a registered Republican? Oh, now I love her ad… If Sydney Sweeney is a registered Republican, I think her ad is fantastic,” he said, and later called it the “HOTTEST” ad on Truth Social. Multiple outlets reported the Florida registration was filed in 2024. (bostonglobe.com)
Vice President Vance weighed in on the conservative Ruthless podcast, quipping: “My political advice to the Democrats is: continue to tell everybody who thinks Sydney Sweeney is attractive is a Nazi,” and arguing critics had “unhinged themselves” over a “normal jeans ad.” (ew.com)
American Eagle addressed the controversy in a statement: “‘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.” (mediaite.com)
Sweeney, 28, said the episode “didn’t affect me one way or the other” and that she largely kept her phone off while working long days on set. (gq.com)
