Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime Show Sparks Political Debate

President Trump slams the performance as 'one of the worst ever' while fans and athletes praise its creativity and cultural representation.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 6:15am

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An extreme close-up of shimmering sequins and shattered glass, capturing the glitz and glamour of a major entertainment event through dramatic, high-contrast studio lighting.The dazzling textures and high-contrast lighting of Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show performance reflect the cultural and political divide it sparked across America.NYC Today

The 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show featuring Bad Bunny sparked intense reactions, with President Trump criticizing the performance as lacking relevance to American values and being a 'slap in the face' to the nation's achievements. This led to a heated debate among conservative influencers, while some fans and sports stars praised the show for its creativity and cultural representation. The performance also included a mock football jersey with the number '64' and the name 'Ocasio,' which some speculated referred to the death toll from Hurricane Maria, further fueling the political divide.

Why it matters

The controversy surrounding Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show performance highlights the deep political and cultural divisions within American society, with differing views on the role of entertainment in shaping public perception and the importance of representing diverse cultural identities on a national stage.

The details

Bad Bunny's performance included heavy use of Spanish, which some viewed as a disregard for the English language and American culture. President Trump and Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon were among those who criticized the show, while former NFL star JJ Watt, New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson, and many fans praised it for its creativity and cultural representation. The performance also included a mock football jersey with the number '64' and the name 'Ocasio,' which some speculated referred to the death toll from Hurricane Maria, further fueling the political debate.

  • The 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show took place on February 2, 2026.

The players

Bad Bunny

A Puerto Rican singer and rapper who performed at the 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show.

President Trump

The former president of the United States who criticized Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show performance.

Harmeet Dhillon

The Assistant Attorney General who publicly criticized Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show performance.

JJ Watt

A former NFL star who praised Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show performance.

Jalen Brunson

The New York Knicks point guard who praised Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show performance.

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What they’re saying

“The Super Bowl Halftime Show was one of the worst ever. It had nothing to do with America and was a big slap in the face to the achievements of our country.”

— President Trump

“Bad Bunny's performance was incredibly creative and represented the diversity of our nation. It was a powerful moment for cultural representation on a national stage.”

— JJ Watt, Former NFL Star

What’s next

The controversy surrounding Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show performance is likely to continue, with further debates and discussions around the role of entertainment in shaping public perception and the importance of cultural representation on a national stage.

The takeaway

The intense reactions to Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show performance highlight the deep political and cultural divisions within American society, with differing views on the appropriate use of language, the representation of diverse identities, and the role of entertainment in shaping public discourse.