MAGA Movement Looks to Sack Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime Show

Conservative leaders and activists voice opposition to the Puerto Rican reggaeton star's performance, sparking a partisan divide over the NFL's entertainment choice.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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The Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement is looking to block Puerto Rican reggaeton star Bad Bunny from performing at the Super Bowl 60 halftime show, with conservative leaders and activists expressing strong opposition to his selection. Some argue his performance, which could be entirely in Spanish, would alienate conservative-leaning fans. The White House said former President Trump plans to watch the game but change the channel during the halftime show, supporting an alternative program featuring Kid Rock and other Trump-friendly performers organized by conservative group Turning Point USA.

Why it matters

The Super Bowl halftime show has become a major cultural touchstone, and the NFL's choice of Bad Bunny has sparked a partisan divide, with conservatives seeing it as a politically charged decision that goes against their beliefs. This controversy highlights how even sports are becoming increasingly polarized along political lines, threatening to divide the typically unifying event.

The details

Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, is a popular Puerto Rican reggaeton artist with a large global following. He is known for his politically outspoken views, including criticism of the Trump administration's immigration policies. Conservatives argue his selection is part of the NFL's effort to go global, but they are bracing for what they expect to be an audacious halftime performance that could include overt or subtle digs at Trump or his policies. More than 100 petitions have been launched on Change.org opposing Bad Bunny's performance, with the most popular calling for him to be replaced by country music star George Strait.

  • The Super Bowl 60 halftime show is scheduled for February 9, 2026.
  • In October 2025, House Speaker Mike Johnson and conservative pundit Tomi Lahren voiced disapproval over Bad Bunny's selection as the halftime performer.
  • In February 2025, former President Trump and several Republican lawmakers attended Super Bowl LIX.

The players

Bad Bunny

A popular Puerto Rican reggaeton artist with a large global following, known for his politically outspoken views, including criticism of the Trump administration's immigration policies.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States, who plans to watch the Super Bowl 60 but change the channel during the halftime show.

Roger Goodell

The current Commissioner of the National Football League (NFL).

Jay-Z

The rapper who was named the NFL's entertainment strategist in 2019.

Rudy Giuliani

The former Mayor of New York City and a close confidant of Donald Trump.

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What they’re saying

“Bad Bunny sucks. The NFL has gone woke ever since (NFL commissioner Roger) Goodell took over in 2006. I'm not watching the Super Bowl this year.”

— Tommy Tuberville, Alabama Senator and former Auburn football coach (USA TODAY)

“Before I say thanks to God, I'm going to say, ICE out.”

— Bad Bunny (Crypto.com Arena)

“I think the president would much prefer a Kid Rock performance over Bad Bunny, I must say that.”

— Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary (USA TODAY)

“If they get a significant audience, and I don't know what that number would be, maybe it'll be a wake-up call to the NFL that they should go in a different direction with their entertainment and try to do something that is not as divisive.”

— Jeff Crouere, Conservative political commentator (USA TODAY)

“Like millions of Latinos, he is bilingual, and he's also supremely talented. And like many immigrants, who are contributing to culture and music, he's an innovator.”

— Vanessa Cárdenas, Executive Director of America's Voice (USA TODAY)

What’s next

The NFL has announced that there will be no ICE or federal immigration enforcement operations at the Super Bowl 60 game, despite hints from Trump allies of a possible deployment.

The takeaway

The controversy over Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show performance highlights the growing political polarization in the United States, where even a traditionally unifying event like the Super Bowl is becoming a battleground in the culture wars. This divide threatens to undermine the NFL's goal of bringing Americans together through the shared experience of the big game.