President Donald Trump is stoking a celebrity rivalry, pitting actress Sydney Sweeney against pop star Taylor Swift in a clash of political and cultural identities.
During an exchange with reporters on Sunday, August 3, Trump learned that Sweeney is a registered Republican. He quickly praised both her political affiliation and her polarizing American Eagle campaign, which has faced criticism for perceived problematic messaging.
The following morning, Trump doubled down in a Truth Social post, celebrating Sweeney while taking another jab at Swift, who endorsed Democrat Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.
“Sydney Sweeney, a registered Republican, has the ‘HOTTEST’ ad out there. It’s for American Eagle, and the jeans are ‘flying off the shelves.’ Go get ‘em Sydney!” Trump posted on August 4.
He then pivoted to one of his recurring targets. “Just look at Woke singer Taylor Swift,” he continued. “Ever since I alerted the world as to what she was by saying on TRUTH that I can’t stand her (HATE!). She was booed out of the Super Bowl and became, NO LONGER HOT.”
Trump added, “The tide has seriously turned — Being WOKE is for losers, being Republican is what you want to be. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
The president has repeatedly criticized Swift since her endorsement of Kamala Harris in September 2024. At the time, he wrote, “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!”
Despite his harsh words, not everyone in Trump’s orbit shares his opinion. His granddaughter Arabella, for instance, is reportedly still a Swift fan and celebrated her 13th birthday with Ivanka Trump at the Eras Tour in October.
Sweeney has not commented on her party registration or voiced support for Trump. Her Republican affiliation was first revealed by Buzzfeed News in the midst of public backlash over her American Eagle partnership.
The campaign — titled “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans” — plays on the double meaning of “jeans” and “genes,” drawing criticism for seemingly implying genetic superiority by emphasizing her blonde hair and blue eyes.
Many critics likened the campaign to Brooke Shields’ infamous 1980 Calvin Klein ad, which featured the line, “You want to know what comes between me and my Calvins? Nothing,” and sparked controversy for its messaging and Shields’ age at the time.
