TRUMP SLAMS Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Show

Decorative elements for Super Bowl including a football and chalkboard
SUPER BOWL DRAMA

President Trump blasts Bad Bunny’s all-Spanish Super Bowl halftime show as a “slap in the face” to America, exposing the NFL’s drift from patriotic traditions cherished by families nationwide.

Story Highlights

  • Trump labels the performance “absolutely terrible,” criticizing its incomprehensibility, lack of inspiration, and “disgusting” dancing unfit for children.
  • First fully Spanish-language Super Bowl halftime show features Puerto Rican cultural elements, alienating many conservative viewers who expect English-dominant, unifying entertainment.
  • Bad Bunny, a prior critic of Trump’s immigration policies, promotes Puerto Rican pride amid conservative backlash that started with his announcement last year.
  • Stadium crowd cheers with “incredible energy,” but remote audiences split, fueling debates over American cultural identity in major events.

Trump’s Direct Criticism Ignites National Debate

President Donald Trump posted on social media immediately after Super Bowl LX halftime on February 8, 2026, at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, California. He called Bad Bunny’s 13-minute performance “absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER,” deeming it a “slap in the face” to the country.

Trump highlighted the all-Spanish lyrics that “nobody understands,” lack of inspirational content, and dancing he described as “disgusting,” arguing it offended American families watching with children. This stance resonates with conservatives frustrated by entertainment pushing foreign cultural agendas over shared national values.

Performance Details Spotlight Puerto Rican Themes

Bad Bunny delivered hits like “BAILE INOLVIDABLE,” “NUEVAYOL,” and “DtMF” in a set evoking Puerto Rican icons such as sugar cane fields, piragua carts, and La Marqueta market. Surprise guests Lady Gaga performed salsa on “Die With a Smile,” while Ricky Martin honored Puerto Rico.

The show ended emphasizing countries across the Americas, heavily featuring Puerto Rico, with Bad Bunny urging self-belief and declaring “the only thing stronger than hate is love.” Seattle Seahawks beat New England Patriots 29-13 that night, but the halftime show divided viewers.

Background of Backlash and Artist’s Stance

Conservatives opposed Bad Bunny’s selection since his announcement last year, proposing alternative performers amid his Grammy criticisms of Trump administration immigration policies, including ICE. Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, won the first Spanish-language album of the year Grammy for Virtuos, marking Latin music’s rise.

Super Bowl halftime shows traditionally spotlight mainstream English acts, making this the first fully Spanish one, a sharp departure that many see as eroding the event’s role in celebrating American unity and family-friendly entertainment.

NFL organizers chose Bad Bunny despite pre-event pushback, balancing commercial appeal with diversity. Trump, as a nationalist voice, amplified tensions reflecting broader conservative-Latino cultural clashes. Power dynamics pit Trump’s political influence against Bad Bunny’s global fanbase and Grammy success.

Reactions and Broader Impacts

Stadium audiences reacted with “incredible energy,” per DW correspondent Benjamin Alvarez Gruber, praising surprise guests and salsa vibes. National reactions were mixed, with conservatives feeling alienated by the un-American tone and child-inappropriate elements. Latino and Puerto Rican communities celebrated the representation.

Short-term, the controversy boosts Bad Bunny’s visibility; long-term, it may shape NFL performer choices amid politicization. Families debate suitability, while political divides on immigration and culture deepen. No responses yet from Bad Bunny or the NFL as of February 9, 2026.

Sources:

Trump calls Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show a ‘slap in the face to our country’

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