Trump Slams Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show as “Terrible” and an “Affront”
Former US President Donald Trump has voiced strong disapproval of Bad Bunny’s all-Spanish Super Bowl halftime performance, labelling it “one of the worst ever” and a “slap in the face” to America. Trump expressed his dissatisfaction, stating the rapper’s gig was “absolutely terrible” and lacked any inspirational quality due to the artist not performing in English.
The former President also conveyed his unhappiness with some of the more suggestive dance moves, noting the Puerto Rican artist’s repeated crotch-grabbing and the presence of twerking women on stage. In a scathing review posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump declared, “Nobody understands a word this guy is saying, and the dancing is disgusting, especially for young children that are watching from throughout the U.S.A., and all over the World.” He further asserted, “It makes no sense, is an affront to the Greatness of America, and doesn’t represent our standards of Success, Creativity, or Excellence.”
A Spectacle of Latin Culture and Controversy
Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, globally known as Bad Bunny, headlined the halftime show at Super Bowl LX. The performance, which saw the Seattle Seahawks defeat the New England Patriots 29-13, was a visual spectacle that transformed the Levi’s Stadium field in California into a vibrant representation of Latin culture. The stage design featured elements such as a sugarcane plantation, domino players, a simulated Latino wedding, and utility poles for Bad Bunny’s dynamic performances.
Bad Bunny, a known critic of Trump’s immigration policies, notably the ICE agency, used the platform to project a message of unity. He held a football emblazoned with the words “Together, we are America” while listing countries across North and South America. This was complemented by a powerful message displayed on the big screen: “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.”
A poignant moment during the show involved Bad Bunny placing his hand on the head of a young boy and handing him a Grammy. While initial viewer speculation suggested it might be five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos, who had recently been detained by ICE agents, it was later clarified that the child was a young actor.
While many fans lauded the performance as a heartfelt tribute to Latin and Hispanic culture, it ignited a strong negative reaction from Donald Trump. He characterized it as “an affront to the Greatness of America.”
Trump’s critique extended to the broader context of American achievements, writing, “This “Show” is just a “slap in the face” to our Country, which is setting new standards and records every single day — including the Best Stock Market and 401(k)s in History!” He dismissed the halftime show as a “mess,” questioning its inspirational value and predicting it would receive favourable reviews from what he termed the “Fake News Media,” whom he accused of being out of touch with the “REAL WORLD.”
Political Undertones and Alternative Entertainment
Beyond his criticism of the halftime show’s content, Trump also took the opportunity to reiterate his long-standing disapproval of the NFL’s new kickoff rule, urging for its immediate replacement. His supporters, often referred to as the MAGA base, reportedly mirrored his sentiments by switching off NBC during halftime to watch an alternative “All-American” show hosted by Turning Point USA on YouTube.
Earlier in the week, Trump had expressed his reservations about the choice of musical acts for the halftime show, stating, “I’m anti-them. I think it’s a terrible choice. All it does is sow hatred. Terrible,” when asked about Bad Bunny and Green Day. The alternative entertainment provided by Kid Rock and others reportedly garnered a peak viewership of over 5 million fans. While Trump had yet to comment on the Charlie Kirk-themed show that ran concurrently with the official broadcast, observers anticipated he would likely offer a more favourable review.
A Star-Studded Showcase of Culture and Collaboration
The official halftime show on NBC featured a surprise appearance by Lady Gaga, joining the 31-year-old Puerto Rican artist (real name: Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio) after an opening medley. The performance took place at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, the same venue where the Seattle Seahawks secured their victory over the New England Patriots.
Bad Bunny’s set, predominantly in Spanish, commenced with “Tití Me Preguntó.” During this song, he was depicted walking through a constructed sugarcane field on the stadium floor, with other performers miming the harvesting process. His attire consisted of a short white shirt, white drawstring trousers, and white gloves, as he held a football.
Following the opener, the performance moved through a series of popular tracks including “Yo Perreo Sola,” “Safaera,” “Party,” “Voy a Llevarte Pa’ PR,” “EoO,” and “Monaco.” A humorous pre-recorded segment showed Bad Bunny seemingly falling through a roof into a family’s living room, only to quickly brush himself off and make a dramatic exit.
The Puerto Rican star was then seen being drawn down a line of violinists as a couple appeared to conclude a wedding ceremony, leading into Lady Gaga’s unexpected appearance.
Gaga, clad in a striking blue sleeveless dress with a plunging neckline and a tiered skirt, performed a Salsa-style rendition of her song “Die With A Smile.”
As Bad Bunny navigated through the sugarcane maze, he paused to perform near simulated fruit vendors, a table of elderly men engaged in games, and a beautician styling a woman’s nails. He later emerged on a rooftop, with a group of celebrities including Pedro Pascal, Cardi B, and Jessica Alba dancing below.
In a notable moment, Bad Bunny delivered a rare message in English, proclaiming, “God Bless America,” before acknowledging various countries across the Americas and emphasizing his Puerto Rican roots. Ricky Martin also joined the performance to sing “Lo que le pasó a Hawaii,” a track from Bad Bunny’s recent LP, “Debí Tirar Más Fotos.”
A somewhat unusual segment featured the headliner ascending a platform surrounded by dancers costumed as workers, suspended from wires as if performing repairs on electrical poles. He concluded his set with “El Apagón,” “CAFé CON RON,” and the title track from his latest album, “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS.”
Beyond the visual spectacle, the performance incorporated several political statements. Dr. Allison Wiltz commented on X, “The history of sugar slavery runs deep throughout the Southern states, the Caribbean, and parts of South America. His performance was brilliant, thought provoking, well executed.” The stage design also included visuals of exploding power grids, a direct reference to Puerto Rico’s persistent and often lengthy electricity outages, an issue Bad Bunny has frequently addressed in his music and advocacy.
In 2022, Bad Bunny released a mini-documentary titled “El Apagón,” which translates to “The Power Outage,” focusing on the island’s ongoing energy crisis.
Diverse Reactions to the Halftime Spectacle
While Trump’s reaction was overwhelmingly negative, many viewers expressed a more positive and appreciative response. One fan on X enthused, “As a lady gaga fan and a bad bunny fan this halftime show was straight up crack in my veins.” Another viewer offered a balanced perspective, stating, “Bad Bunny was entertaining. Obviously some of the lyrics and dancing are what you’d expect from a hip hop act, but overall, pro-family, pro Puerto Rican/Latin culture – yes, but also pro American. Sorry, just my honest assessment.” A third commenter described the performance as “a vibrant, well-put-together celebration and tour of Puerto Rican and broader Latin culture. Opening in sugar cane fields, nods to street foods, wedding (between man and woman!).”
However, some viewers echoed Trump’s sentiments, with one writing on X, “The NFL had a once in a lifetime to honor the USA with a Happy 250th Birthday half-time show. They blew it with foreign flags and a Spanish speaker. What a disgrace.” Another user expressed a similar view: “The last I knew the Super Bowl was an American game, not a world game. The only flag that should have flown is the Stars and Stripes.” A particularly strong reaction came from an X user who stated, “Welcome to Roger Goodell’s NFL!!! My grandchildren and I tuned in to the TPUSA halftime show. My wife said she watched a little of Bad Bunny out of curiosity and everything was in Spanish and ‘he grabbed his di*k majorly’. Goodell has allowed scum into our American pastimes!!”
