Sydney Sweeney, the star of Euphoria and White Lotus, registered as a Republican voter in Florida on 14 June 2024, according to public records reviewed by the Guardian. The registration occurred shortly after she purchased a mansion in the Florida Keys and about two weeks after Donald Trump was convicted in New York City. Trump, also a registered Republican Florida voter, went on to win the US presidency in November.
The revelation comes amid a public fixation on a new American Eagle jeans ad campaign featuring Sweeney. The campaign uses the pun “Sydney Sweeney has great genes,” with one video crossing out “genes” and replacing it with “jeans.” Some social media users criticised the campaign as echoing eugenics and white supremacy rhetoric, particularly given the Trump administration’s push to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and enforce mass deportations.
Conservatives have defended Sweeney, with Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung calling the criticism “cancel culture run amok.” When informed of Sweeney’s Republican registration, Trump himself said, “Ooh, now I love her ad.” However, many observers have dismissed the backlash as exaggerated, noting that American Eagle’s stock has risen following the campaign.
Sweeney has not commented on her voter registration. In 2022, she faced criticism after guests at her mother’s birthday party wore hats resembling Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan. She then pleaded with the public to “stop making assumptions,” stating that the celebration was not intended as a political statement.
