Trump Misspells Sydney Sweeney in Fiery Anti-Woke Rant
Sydney Sweeney, at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in Toronto, Canada, 2024. Photo courtesy of Jay Dixit under CC BY-SA 4.0.
President Donald Trump has once again captured headlines with a spectacle that blends political theater and personal admiration, this time centered on actress Sydney Sweeney. In a Truth Social post that quickly went viral, Trump declared Sweeney's American Eagle jeans campaign the "HOTTEST" ad out there, according to the New York Post. However, according to The Daily Beast, the message began with a glaring slip-up: he reportedly misspelled her name as "Sidney" before deleting and reposting the message with the correct spelling. This blunder, combined with a fiery rant against "woke" brands and pop icon Taylor Swift, turned the post into a cultural moment that's as much about optics as it is about politics.
A Gaffe That Stole the Show
The misspelling of Sydney Sweeney's name was an immediate red flag for observers. Known for his unfiltered and often chaotic social media presence, Trump's error was quickly noticed and mocked across platforms. The initial post, which called the star "Sidney," was deleted and replaced with a corrected version praising the actress and her American Eagle campaign. Despite the correction, the slip-up became a symbol of the president's sometimes sloppy approach to public messaging, especially when it comes to his personal endorsements.
The post itself was a mix of admiration and political signaling. Trump praised Sweeney's ad, noting that the jeans were "flying off the shelves," according to the New York Sun, and encouraging his followers to support the campaign. The actress, best known for her roles in "Euphoria" and "The White Lotus," has recently been identified as a registered Republican, according to The Sun, a fact that Trump seized upon to bolster his anti-woke narrative.
The Anti-Woke Crusade
Trump's praise for Sweeney's campaign was not an isolated compliment. It was part of a broader attack on brands and celebrities he labels as "woke." In the same Truth Social post, he slammed Jaguar for a "stupid" and "seriously woke" advertisement, calling it a "TOTAL DISASTER," as reported by The Daily Beast. The Jaguar ad, which featured androgynous models and slogans like "create exuberant" and "break moulds," sparked controversy. Jaguar Land Rover's CEO Adrian Mardell has since resigned amid the turmoil surrounding the revamp.
Trump also took aim at Bud Light, referencing the backlash the beer brand faced after partnering with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney. The campaign led to a boycott by conservative consumers and was widely discussed in MAGA circles. Trump's post mistakenly referred to the brand as "Bud Lite," apparently mixing it up with Miller Lite, but the criticism was clearly aimed at Bud Light's "woke" campaign, which he said had "essentially destroyed" the company in a short time, according to the New York Post.
Taylor Swift: From Pop Princess to Political Punching Bag
No MAGA spectacle would be complete without a jab at a high-profile cultural figure, and Taylor Swift was the target this time. Trump claimed credit for Swift's decline in popularity, referencing his previous statements on Truth Social where he expressed his hatred for the singer. He linked his criticism to her being booed at the Super Bowl and declared that she was "NO LONGER HOT." The post concluded with a stark message: "Being WOKE is for losers, being Republican is what you want to be," as reported by The Daily Beast.
The Sydney Sweeney Campaign Controversy
Sydney Sweeney's American Eagle campaign itself has been a lightning rod for debate. The ads play on the pun between "jeans" and "genes," with one tagline stating, "Sydney Sweeney has great jeans," according to The Sun, which some critics interpreted as an endorsement of certain genetic traits, including her blonde hair and blue eyes. This sparked accusations that the campaign glorified a narrow beauty standard and racial ideal, leading to a social media frenzy and calls of "Nazi propaganda" from detractors.
American Eagle doubled down on the campaign, insisting that the focus was on the jeans and the confidence they inspire, not genetics. Despite the backlash, the campaign has been hailed by some conservative figures as a victory against "woke advertising," according to The Sun, and the brand's stock price surged significantly following the campaign's launch.
Market Impact and Political Significance
Trump's endorsement had a tangible effect on American Eagle's stock, which reportedly jumped 17.67% shortly after his post. This surge added approximately $200 million to the company's market value, illustrating the power of the president's social media influence, even when it comes wrapped in a spectacle of misspellings and rants.
The episode highlights how Trump's public persona continues to blur the lines between politics, entertainment, and personal branding. His open admiration for a young actress, combined with his aggressive stance against "woke" culture, creates a narrative that resonates deeply with his base while fueling cultural divisions.
A Spectacle of Optics and Messaging
This latest episode is less about Sydney Sweeney herself and more about the optics of Trump's messaging. The misspelling of her name, the rapid deletion and reposting, and the sprawling rant against multiple brands and celebrities all point to a carefully chaotic style of communication. It's a spectacle designed to grab attention, dominate headlines, and energize supporters.
For critics, it's a sign of sloppy, attention-seeking behavior that undermines serious political discourse. For supporters, it's a rallying cry against cultural shifts they view as threatening traditional values. Either way, the moment has become a defining example of how Trump's social media presence operates as a form of modern political theater.
This episode is a vivid reminder that in today's political climate, the personal and the political are inseparable, and every public statement is a performance. Whether you see it as a gaffe or a calculated move, Trump's "Sidney" moment with Sydney Sweeney is a headline-stealing spectacle that will be talked about for weeks to come.
References: Trump Misspells Name of His 'HOTTEST' Crush Sydney Sweeney | Donald Trump says Sydney Sweeney has the 'HOTTEST' ad & blasts 'woke companies' such as 'stupid' Jaguar & Bud Light | The Sun | Trump gushes about 'HOTTEST' Sydney Sweeney ad campaign -- and says Taylor Swift 'NO LONGER HOT' thanks to him
