Sydney Sweeney has once again found herself caught in a political controversy after footage resurfaced showing her brother clashing with anti-Trump demonstrators, according to a report by the Daily Mail.
The video dates back to 2018 and shows Sweeney’s younger brother, Trent Sweeney, confronting anti-Trump protesters during a demonstration in Spokane, Washington.
Highlights
- Sydney Sweeney’s brother Trent was filmed confronting anti-Trump protesters during a 2018 Spokane demonstration supporting Vice President Mike Pence.
- The footage shows heated clashes, with Trent’s pro-Trump group chanting and filing a police report after an alleged assault.
- Sydney Sweeney has faced ongoing scrutiny for her family’s Republican ties, highlighted by a 2022 party featuring MAGA-style hats.
At the time, he was marching with a group supporting President Donald Trump during a visit by Vice President Mike Pence.
A new report revealed Sydney Sweeney's brother confronted anti-Trump protesters
Image credits: Sydney Sweeney/Instagram
The footage, verified by the Daily Mail, shows shouting between the opposing groups, with Sweeney’s group chanting, “Trump Trump Trump,” and the other group carrying the “Baby Trump” protest balloon.
During the exchange, a woman appears to push Sweeney’s arm away while telling him to stop filming. Sweeney later filed a police report alleging assault. Police reviewed the incident but did not charge anyone.
An officer said that Sweeney had voluntarily participated in the protest, showing his Republican support, at least in that very moment.
While Sweeney said he was “just walking by,” the Daily Mail noted that the footage “clearly demonstrates that he was part of an organized pro-Trump group.”
Image credits: Dave Benett/Getty Images
The resurfacing of the footage fueled renewed scrutiny of Sydney Sweeney’s political associations, which have followed her throughout her rise in Hollywood.
The actress, best known for her roles in Euphoria and The White Lotus, has come under repeated criticism for her family’s apparent Republican ties, and most recently, her American Eagle ad.
Speculation about her family’s political views first erupted in 2022 after photos from her mother’s birthday party showed guests wearing red hats styled like “Make America Great Again” hats, which said, “Make Sixty Great Again.”
Image credits: Michael Buckner/Getty Images
Some people were also wearing “Blue Lives Matter” T-shirts, in an alleged response to the Black Lives Matter movement.
Sweeney had said the celebration was not intended as a political statement and asked people to stop making assumptions.
Then, in 2024, reports showed Sweeney registered as a Republican voter in Florida, right before Trump was voted into power.
Sweeney, a registered Republican, received criticism for an American Eagle ad
Image credits: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
The controversy continued after she appeared in an American Eagle jeans ad, talking about her blonde hair, blue-eyed “genes,” which many condemned as racist.
Trump, upon finding out Sweeney was a registered Republican, said he loved it and endorsed the ad, describing it as “the hottest ad ever.”
A GQ interview following the controversy only made Sweeney’s MAGAfied image appear stronger. When asked by Katherine Stoeffel if she had any response to the ad controversy, she replied, “I did a jean ad. I mean, the reaction definitely was a surprise, but I love jeans. All I wear are jeans. I’m literally in jeans and a T-shirt every day of my life.”
When Stoeffel followed up, asking the 28-year-old actress to comment on the ad allegedly promoting genetic superiority, Sweeney said, “I think that when I have an issue that I want to speak about, people will hear.”