American Eagle’s ties to sultry superstar Sydney Sweeney continued to pay massive dividends Monday — as the retailer’s stock surged by nearly 25% after President Trump gave a thumbs-up to her “fantastic” ad.
Trump’s approval came after the “Euphoria” and “White Lotus” actress revealed that she is a registered Republican voter.
“Oh, now I adore her ad … If Sydney Sweeney is registered, I think her ad is fantastic,” Trump said Sunday.
The American Eagle ad featuring Sweeney decked out in denim sparked a “woke” uproar from social media users who objected to the “great jeans” wordplay that some interpret as having racial overtones.
But the fury from left-wing activists was met with its own backlash against the woke mob by HBO’s Bill Maher and others
Trump amplified his support for Sweeney on his Truth Social platform, calling the American Eagle advertisements “fantastic” and claiming the featured jeans were “flying off the shelves.”
The renewed attention sent the retailer’s stock skyrocketing 24%, to $13.32 a share, by the closing bell, giving the company a market cap of $2.3 billion.
The stock has been trading in a range over the past year of between $9.27 and $22.82.
American Eagle’s fall denim campaign has sparked intense public discussion since its launch, centering on advertisements that play with the phrase “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans.”
Critics have questioned whether the ads cater to what they term the “male gaze” and whether this conflicts with American Eagle’s subsidiary brand Aerie, which has built a reputation for “body-positive messaging” by using models of varying body types.
American Eagle responded to the criticism by issuing a public statement defending its creative choices.
“This campaign is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her narrative. We will continue to honor the unique ways everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence,” the company said.
“Great jeans flatter everyone.”
The retailer emphasized that its focus remained on fashion rather than any other interpretation of its messaging.
Sweeney has remained silent throughout the debate.
Her political registration became a topic of discussion after Trump’s comments, though she has not commented on how her voter status relates to the advertising controversy.
The Post has sought comment from Sweeney and American Eagle Outfitters.
