As millions tuned in to Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, expecting a high-energy spectacle to bridge the gap between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks, Latin musician Bad Bunny delivered a performance that instead cracked open America’s deepening cultural fractures.
What was promoted as a celebration of global talent quickly morphed into a flashpoint, with President Donald Trump labeling it an “affront to the Greatness of America” and hordes of viewers decrying its Spanish-language dominance as out of touch with the nation’s core audience. In a halftime show laced with subtle political barbs, Bad Bunny’s set not only divided fans but also underscored the ongoing tension between entertainment’s force-feeding of diversity and a resurgent demand for unapologetic American pride.
The performance itself was a whirlwind of reggaeton rhythms and high-production flair, marking what was anticipated as the first Super Bowl halftime entirely in Spanish. Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio in Puerto Rico, commanded the stage in a mock football jersey emblazoned with “Ocasio 64″—a nod to his surname but also a pointed reference to the initial death toll from Hurricane Maria in 2017, which the Puerto Rican government reported as 64 before it was revised upward to nearly 3,000 amid widespread criticism of federal response efforts.
He rattled off names of countries across the Americas, culminating in a display of a football reading “together we are America,” a message that resonated with Latin audiences but struck many others as an implicit challenge to U.S. sovereignty debates. The show wrapped with a stadium screen flashing “The Only Thing More Powerful Than Hate is Love,” interpreted by critics as a veiled swipe at current political rhetoric.
President Trump’s response was swift and unfiltered, posted on Truth Social shortly after the performance. “The Super Bowl Halftime Show is absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER! It makes no sense, is an affront to the Greatness of America, and doesn’t represent our standards of Success, Creativity, or Excellence. 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 wrote. Trump continued, “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! There is nothing inspirational about this mess of a Halftime Show and watch, it will get great reviews from the Fake News Media, because they haven’t got a clue of what is going on in the REAL WORLD — And, by the way, the NFL should immediately replace its ridiculous new Kickoff Rule. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
His words echoed the sentiments of many conservative voices, who saw the show as emblematic of broader cultural shifts they oppose.
Viewer reactions poured in across social media, revealing a stark divide. On X, conservative influencers and everyday users lambasted the performance for its lack of English lyrics, tying it to heated discussions on immigration and national identity. O
ne user remarked that the Spanish-heavy set felt like a “slap in the face” amid ongoing ICE deportations, while others praised an alternative “All-American” halftime broadcast by Turning Point USA, featuring Kid Rock, Pro Football Hall of Famers Eric Dickerson and Brett Favre, and former ESPN host Sage Steele.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt had previewed the president’s preference, telling reporters, “I think the president would much prefer a Kid Rock performance over Bad Bunny.” Yet, not all feedback was negative; sports figures like former NFL star JJ Watt and New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson hailed it as innovative, and Latin fans celebrated it as a bold assertion of cultural presence.
This wasn’t Bad Bunny’s first brush with political controversy. The artist has long been outspoken against Trump, particularly over the federal handling of Hurricane Maria, which devastated Puerto Rico and left lasting scars on its people. In 2024, he endorsed Kamala Harris for president, decrying the Trump administration’s response to the disaster and its immigration policies.
Bad Bunny represents what some call Puerto Rico’s “crisis generation,” shaped by economic collapse, natural disasters, and a strained relationship with the U.S. government. His choice of attire and messaging during the halftime show—including the “Ocasio 64” jersey—appears deliberately evocative of those grievances, transforming a sports entertainment slot into a platform for subtle protest.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell defended the selection of Bad Bunny ahead of the game, emphasizing the artist’s global appeal and ability to unite audiences.
“Bad Bunny is one of the great artists in the world and that’s one of the reasons we chose him,” Goodell said. “But the other reason is he understood the platform he was on and this platform is used to unite people and to be able to bring people together with their creativity, with their talents.”
Despite anticipated backlash from Trump supporters, the league stood firm, viewing the performance as a step toward broader inclusivity in a sport that has grappled with its own cultural reckonings in recent years.
The surprise appearance by Lady Gaga, who joined for a rendition of Bruno Mars’ “Die With a Smile,” added an English-language element but did little to quell the uproar. For many, it highlighted the NFL’s attempt to balance global stardom with domestic expectations, yet the overall Spanish focus fueled accusations of alienating core fans. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon was among the prominent critics, joining a chorus that questioned whether such a show aligned with the Super Bowl’s traditional role as a unifying national event.
In the end, Bad Bunny’s halftime extravaganza serves as a stark reminder of how entertainment intersects with politics in today’s America. What began as a musical interlude evolved into a referendum on identity, language, and values, with Trump’s condemnation amplifying the debate.
As the nation processes this latest culture war skirmish, one thing is clear: the Super Bowl stage, once a neutral ground for escapism, now mirrors the very divisions it once helped bridge. Whether this pushes the NFL toward more cautious choices or bolder statements remains to be seen, but the echoes of this performance will linger far beyond the final whistle.
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