Former President Donald Trump offered a harsh critique of Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime performance, describing it as a “slap in the face” to America.
The Puerto Rican artist’s Spanish-language performance during the halftime of the Seahawks-Patriots game sparked mixed reactions among viewers, but Trump made his disapproval clear through a post on TruthSocial.
“The Super Bowl Halftime Show is absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER!” Trump declared. “It makes no sense, is an affront to the Greatness of America, and doesn’t represent our standards of Success, Creativity, or Excellence.”
He added, “Nobody understands a word this guy is saying, and the dancing is inappropriate, especially for young children watching across the U.S.A. and around the World.”
Trump’s criticism continued, labeling the performance as a “slap in the face to our country,” and he went on to cite statistics and records to highlight America’s achievements.
He concluded with, “There is nothing inspirational about this mess of a Halftime Show, and mark my words, it will receive praise from the Fake News Media, who are out of touch with the REAL WORLD.”
As a post-script, Trump then doubled down on his regular criticism of his least-favorite NFL rule, writing: ‘And, by the way, the NFL should immediately replace its ridiculous new Kickoff Rule. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!’
Trump’s MAGA base also voted with their fingers to turn off NBC at halftime and instead fire up YouTube to watch Turning Point USA’s ‘All-American’ show instead.
Bad Bunny’s half time show came a week after he made history at the Grammys by winning the coveted album of the year award, marking the first time it has gone to a Spanish-language album
The Puerto Rican rapper performed his entire set in his native Spanish at Levi’s Stadium
Bad Bunny and Gaga salsa danced during Die With A Smile, which she released in 2024 as a collaborative single with Bruno Mars
Right-wing pundits and administration officials lashed out at the NFL after Bad Bunny’s halftime show was announced
But NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell waved away concerns about Bad Bunny’s halftime show after the Grammys, saying the Puerto Rican singer ‘understood the platform he was on’
Trump scathing Truth Social post in full
Incredibly, over 5 million fans were on the live stream at its peak to watch Kid Rock and Co provide an alternative halftime entertainment to Bad Bunny.
Trump is yet to share his thoughts on the Charlie Kirk-themed show that aired alongside the official one, but it would not be surprising to hear the president give that a more glowing review.
In Bad Bunny’s show on NBC, Lady Gaga made an unexpected appearance with the 31-year-old Puerto Rican performer (real name: Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio) after the opening medley.
They performed at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, where the Seattle Seahawks trounced the New England Patriots by 29–13, marking just the second Super Bowl win for the Seahawks.
Bad Bunny’s mostly Spanish set began with Tití Me Preguntó, which he sang while walking through a sugar cane field that had been constructed on the field, while other performers mimed harvesting it.
He was dressed in a short white shirt and white trousers with drawstrings, and he carried a football in his white-gloved hands.
In an amusing prerecorded segment, Bad Bunny appeared to fall through a roof into the living room of a shocked family, but he quickly brushed the plaster dust off his shoulders and kicked open the front door.
Then the Puerto Rican star was pulled down a row of violinists as a couple appeared to conclude a marriage ceremony, leading into Lady Gaga’s surprise appearance for one of her songs.
Bad Bunny performs on stage during the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in Santa Clara
Pedro Pascal was pictured hanging out among dancers on stage during the show
Bad Bunny, who won three Grammys that night, delivered a strong rebuke of ICE in his acceptance speech
He first performd as a guest at 2020’s Super Bowl LIV, which was co-headlined by Shakira (pictured) and Jennifer Lopez. Bad Bunny became the first Latin artist to solely headline the show
Gaga added a splash of color with her red heels, and she appeared to have bleached her eyebrows
He followed the song up with Yo Perreo Sola, Safaera, Party, Voy a Llevarte Pa’ PR, EoO and Monaco.
As he exited the maze of sugar cane, he stopped to sing next to fruit vendors, a table of old men playing games and a beautician styling another woman’s nails.
Bad Bunny then emerged on the roof of a building while celebrities danced under its awning.
Gaga wore a blue sleeveless dress with a plunging neckline and a tiered skirt as she appeared at a microphone.
She performed Die With A Smile, but in a rearranged Salsa-style version, and Ricky Martin also joined the show later to perform Lo que le pasó a Hawaii.
Bad Bunny delivered a rare English message during the performance, declaring, ‘God Bless America,’ before naming countries across the Americas and highlighting his Puerto Rican heritage.
A number of stars were also part of the performance including Pedro Pascal, Cardi B and Jessica Alba, dancing beneath awning while Bad Bunny was on top.
Other viewers were considerable more forgiving than Trump, with one gushing on X: ‘As a lady gaga fan and a bad bunny fan this halftime show was straight up crack in my veins.’
Someone else said: ‘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.’
‘The performance was 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!)’, wrote a third.
Donald Trump took to social media to give his thoughts on Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl show
He performed at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. (pictured), as the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots faced off
In an amusing prerecorded segment, Bad Bunny appeared to fall through the building roof into the living room of a shocked family
Cardi B (second to left) and Jessica Alba share a glance during the halftime show
Bad Bunny emerged onto a building while celebrities danced under the awning, including Pedro Pascal (L), Cardi B (center) and Jessica Alba (third from the right)
But some sided with the President, with one writing: ‘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 wrote: ‘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.’
‘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!!’ wrote another X user.
