Overview

• The campaign’s wordplay equating “genes” with “jeans” has prompted accusations of eugenic or racist undertones online.
• Social media users have called for a boycott even as American Eagle maintains the ad celebrates denim, not genetics.
• Public voter records showing Sydney Sweeney’s Republican registration spurred President Trump to hail the spot as the “hottest” ad on Truth Social.
• Trump’s endorsement propelled American Eagle Outfitters’ shares up roughly 25 percent on August 5, marking the steepest one-day gain since 2000.
• New sales figures have not been released to gauge the campaign’s commercial impact; Sydney Sweeney has remained publicly silent.