Shares of American Eagle Outfitters surged by up to 24% on August 4, 2025, marking the company's largest single-day gain in 25 years following public praise from former US President Donald Trump. The stock rally was driven by Trump's endorsement of a controversial American Eagle advertising campaign featuring actress Sydney Sweeney. The ad, which highlights Sweeney's jeans, sparked debate due to allegations that it alluded to white supremacist themes. Trump described the campaign as "fantastic" and the "hottest out there," noting his support after learning that Sweeney is a registered Republican in Florida since 2024. Despite the backlash and accusations of the ad being "woke" or politically charged, American Eagle doubled down on the campaign, which went viral with over 50 million readers across approximately 3,000 articles. The stock's surge pushed American Eagle into meme stock territory, reflecting the influence of political endorsements on market movements. The controversy also drew attention to the intersection of fashion marketing, politics, and culture wars in the United States.