2025 summer in Allentown, Pennsylvania, a reporter asked the U.S. President Trump about the news that Hollywood star Sydney Sweeney had registered as a Republican, and Trump showed a boyish smile.

Trump rarely praises Hollywood stars

He said without hiding: "You'll be surprised to find so many people are Republicans. I didn't know before, but I'm glad you told me... If Sweeney is registered as a Republican, I think her ad is very good."

Jeans sounds like genes, meaning good genes

A commercial originally shot for selling jeans turned into a new stage of the American culture war due to an unexpected political identity.

How a Jeans Ad Sparked a Storm

Initially, it was just a regular business marketing campaign.

In the ad, Sydney Sweeney wore American Eagle's new jeans and casually talked about "genes determine hair color, personality, and eye color," then looked down and joked, "My jeans are blue."

After a close-up of her body curves, she playfully looked up and smiled, "Hey, look up!"

Seemingly light-hearted and humorous, it was accused by left-wing critics of implying "superior gene" worship — a term dangerously linked to eugenics and white supremacy. Social media exploded: some angrily condemned the ad for subtly promoting racism, while others mocked it as another case of "over-sensitivity."

The original intention of the ad was simply to attract more young people to the jeans; but in today's America, even the smallest expression can be quickly politicized.

Political Carnival: Sweeney's Political Identity Exposed

As the controversy was intensifying, a more shocking revelation came: according to voter records from Monroe County, Florida, Sweeney had registered as a Republican as early as last June.

This transformed the entire story from a commercial event into a political topic.

The right-wing media and politicians went into a frenzy:

Vice President Vance praised the ad

  • Trump immediately liked the ad and personally expressed his approval.
  • Vice President JD Vance sarcastically commented on a podcast: "The Democratic strategy seems to be telling everyone who finds Sweeney attractive that they're Nazis."
  • Senator Ted Cruz posted: "Wow, now the crazy left wants to oppose beautiful women. That might not be good for votes."

For Republicans, Sweeney was undoubtedly a rare "anti-cancel culture" idol: a young Hollywood star who dared to openly be a Republican voter, challenging the political correctness of the mainstream entertainment industry.

Comedy and the Internet's Absurdity: A National Show

Donald Trump Jr. took the controversy and turned it into entertainment: he posted a picture with an AI-generated funny image, putting his father in tight jeans in a model pose, with the background music being the song "Relax" from the comedy film "Supermodel" that satirizes the fashion industry.

In the HBO show "Bill Maher Live," comedian Bill Maher also made a sarcastic comment:

"She said she has blue eyes, then said 'I have great jeans,' and suddenly she's a white supremacist? These people who swipe left on bald men on Tinder now criticize others for being too white and beautiful."

Irony, jokes, and AI memes filled the internet — the original ad controversy was completely transformed into a national carnival.

Brands and Media: The Commercial Logic Being Dragged In

Facing this situation, brand American Eagle issued an official statement: "Sydney Sweeney's jeans are great." It has always been about the jeans. Her jeans, her story."

The brand was careful: denying any racist intent, yet trying not to take sides. But in the social media era, such "neutrality" is almost impossible: the ad itself was caught up in emotional mobilization on both sides, making it even harder for the brand to withdraw.

According to FOX host Lawrence Jones, the essence of this incident is simple: "People who look good sell products more easily." "That's marketing." He even added, "I also like full-figured women, but sometimes it doesn't help you sell more pants."

Simple, direct, even crude — but brutally revealing the core of the advertising industry: sexiness and beauty remain the timeless passwords for sales.

Why Did One Ad Tear Apart America?

From a jeans ad to a nationwide debate, it reflects the deep fractures in today's American society:

Identity politics: A celebrity's political registration information was enough to make the ad interpreted as a "political statement."

Cancel culture vs anti-cancel culture: Leftists worry about hidden racism; the right mocks the left's over-sensitivity and moral superiority.

Business and politics intertwining: Brands want to win progressive consumers but don't want to lose conservative customers — ultimately, they end up offending everyone and pleasing no one.

The ad was meant to sell pants, but the deep contradictions in America turned it into a social mirror.

Leftist critics are not entirely without basis: In American cultural history, "superior genes" and "traditional beauty" have long been intertwined with white supremacist discourse. From the "blonde-haired, blue-eyed" narrative in Hollywood to the eugenics shadows in early ads, there are indeed sensitive traces.

And the conservatives' response also pointed out that this over-interpretation stifles humor and free expression: an ad that could have been easily consumed was forced to bear the moral burden of the times.

Who Is the Final Winner?

  • Sweeney: From an ad spokesperson to the center of the topic, regardless of positive or negative, her name's popularity skyrocketed.
  • Trump and the Republicans: They seized the opportunity to shape Sweeney into a "common idol bullied by the left," strengthening the cohesion of voters.
  • American Eagle: Although the ad controversy was big, it received far more exposure than the budget.
  • Leftist critics: Although mocked as allergic, they also reminded society to face implicit bias.

Finally, it's not a clear-cut win or loss, but a release of collective emotions across society.

The Country's Fractures in the Jeans

When Sweeney smiled at the camera and said, "Hey, look up!" it was originally humorous, sexy, and self-deprecating; now it has become ironic: people can no longer just "look at the jeans," but must see the underlying racial issues, gender topics, and political stances.

A pair of jeans became a symbol of the American society's fractures: one side yearning for traditional beauty and humor; the other questioning the hidden privileges and prejudices.

And Trump's sentence, "Now I like her ad," was the perfect touch: in contemporary America, even advertising aesthetics must first ask: Are you a Republican or a Democrat?

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7534564583831388687/

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