Under President Donald Trump, America’s transformation has been quite remarkable, particularly through his Magazine agenda.
Yet, it’s not just policies that are shifting—culture is evolving too. Take, for instance, the recent American Eagle Outfitters Blue Jeans advertisement. This 2025 denim spot showcases actress Sidney Sweeney, who has been drawing attention for her intriguing persona and her figure reminiscent of Marilyn Monroe.
This commercial plays on celebrity charm and taps into those classic, nostalgic images of America. More importantly, it appears to be a shift back to straightforward marketing without an agenda.
Glenn Beck and co-host Stu Burguiere have compared the new American Eagle ads to those from 2019. The previous ad featured an overweight African American woman with purple hair, which Glenn describes as a “Ritzo style woman.”
In contrast, the new ads featuring Sweeney seem to be directly targeting American men, according to Glenn. Stu concurs, noting that Sweeney’s appeal is certainly strong among typical men. However, he believes the advertising is just as much about attracting “typical American women,” those who actually purchase jeans.
The ad provocatively asks, “Doesn’t men look good?” as a way of suggesting a mutual attraction in marketing. Glenn points out, “What American Eagle is saying is, ‘Hey, men and women are attracted to each other.’ If you portray an attractive woman, it might prompt women to buy products that appeal to men.” Which seems reasonable enough, doesn’t it?
For years, though, marketing’s main goal—selling products—has been overshadowed by diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), along with body positivity and other progressive initiatives, sometimes at the cost of profits.
The fact that American Eagle has gotten back to marketing without an agenda signals a cultural shift. “This kind of ad wouldn’t have been possible just two years ago,” Glenn points out.
He explains that companies failed to include diverse body types in their campaigns, making it crucial to appeal broadly to customers. Unfortunately, for years, it seemed like many ads were promoting being “fat,” aligning too closely with a progressive agenda.
Stu argues that this trend normalized mediocrity, which isn’t the American spirit; America is about striving for excellence and “aiming for something.” For more insights from Glenn and Stu, check out the episode above.
