Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny headlined the Super Bowl 60 halftime show with a Spanish-language tribute to his heritage, drawing praise from fans but sharp criticism from President Trump and MAGA supporters who questioned its American representation. The 13-minute set at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, featured cultural elements like sugarcane fields and bodegas, ending with a procession of flags led by the U.S. banner. Conservatives countered with an alternative all-English halftime event headlined by Kid Rock.
On February 8, 2026, during Super Bowl 60 between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks, Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, delivered the NFL's first predominantly Spanish halftime show. The performance, announced in September 2025, honored Puerto Rican culture through a 13-minute spectacle including a sugarcane field, bodegas, and a traditional casita, while subtly referencing the island's power grid struggles. Fans celebrated it as a vibrant showcase of heritage, but Bad Bunny avoided direct political statements despite his past criticism of Trump-era immigration policies, such as declaring 'ICE out' at the recent Grammys where his all-Spanish album 'DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS' won album of the year.
As the show concluded, Bad Bunny spoke his only English words: 'God bless America,' followed by spiking a football inscribed 'together, we are America' amid a procession of Latin American and South American flags led by the U.S. flag. However, President Trump decried it on Truth Social as 'one of the worst, EVER!' claiming 'Nobody understands a word this guy is saying.' Allies echoed this: Nick Adams, Trump's ambassador pick to Malaysia, posted on X, 'Was a single word of English spoken during the Super Bowl Halftime Show? ... This is an abomination.' Far-right influencer Laura Loomer called for an immigration raid, stating, 'This isn’t White enough for me. Cant even watch a Super Bowl anymore because immigrants have literally ruined everything.' Influencer Jake Paul urged viewers to 'turn off this halftime,' labeling Bad Bunny a 'fake American citizen performing who publicly hates America,' prompting rebuttals like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's reminder that Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens.
Additional concerns arose over explicit lyrics in songs like 'Safaera,' which included references to sexual acts and drug use, though altered for broadcast; translations revealed content such as oral sex and drug references hidden by the language barrier. Rep. Randy Fine (R-Fla.) deemed it 'disgusting' and vowed to petition FCC Chair Brendan Carr for review.
In response, Turning Point USA streamed a rival 'All-American Halftime Show' headlined by Kid Rock, featuring artists like Brantley Gilbert, Gabby Barrett, and Lee Brice. Rock incorporated gospel elements, singing a new verse to Cody Johnson's ''Til You Can’t' about Jesus 'who died for all our sins' and giving a 'second chance.' The event ended with a tribute to assassinated TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk, displaying Isaiah 6:8: 'Here am I, send me.' It garnered nearly 20 million YouTube views, with supporters like Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and House Speaker Mike Johnson praising its English-language patriotism. Kid Rock had framed it as a 'David and Goliath' challenge, aiming to celebrate America against Bad Bunny's 'dance party ... singing in Spanish.'
