Trump, Latinos & Bad Bunny: Shifting Votes & Cultural Pushback

Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show sparks political debate as Latino voters reevaluate their support for former President Trump.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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The Super Bowl LXI halftime show featuring Bad Bunny has ignited a political firestorm, highlighting a complex and evolving relationship between the Latino community and former President Donald Trump. While Trump saw a significant increase in Latino voter support in 2024, recent events suggest a potential shift back towards the Democratic party, fueled by concerns over immigration policies and a growing sense of cultural affirmation.

Why it matters

The dynamic between the Latino community and both major political parties is in flux. Understanding the shifting priorities and motivations of Latino voters is crucial as candidates seek to engage this growing and influential electorate.

The details

Trump's aggressive immigration enforcement and reported detentions of both documented residents and U.S. Citizens with Latino roots contributed to his gains in 2024, reaching 48% of the Latino vote – a twelve-point increase from 2020. However, the recent special election win for Democrat Taylor Rehmet in Texas's District 9 – a territory previously dominated by Trump – signals a potential resurgence of Democratic support. Bad Bunny's Super Bowl performance was a deliberate celebration of Latino culture, which Trump labeled an 'affront to the greatness of the United States.' This reaction further galvanized support for the artist and the values he represented.

  • In the 2024 presidential election, Trump received 48% of the Latino vote, a 12-point increase from 2020.
  • In January 2026, a NYT/Siena poll showed 58% disapproval of Trump's performance among Latino voters.
  • In November 2025, a Pew Research survey indicated 70% of Latinos disapproved of Trump.

The players

Michelle Venegas

A 50-year-old Puerto Rican resident of Austin, Texas who expressed concerns about Trump's immigration policies.

Taylor Rehmet

The Democratic candidate who recently won the special election in Texas's District 9, a territory previously dominated by Trump.

Amerika García Grewal

A leader with the Federación Frontera who saw Bad Bunny's Super Bowl performance as a powerful counter-narrative to Trump's rhetoric about migrants.

Martina Grifaldo

A leader with the Alianza Latina Internacional in Houston who described Bad Bunny's performance as 'a powerful message because We see saying that we are important and necessary in this country.'

Debbie Mucarsel-Powell

The director of the School of Political Management at George Washington University who noted that Latino voters haven't seen tangible improvements in their economic situations.

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What they’re saying

“Por las políticas migratorias de Trump ahora 'tenemos que andar con nuestros pasaportes en el bolsillo y eso no garantiza que no nos detengan. Esa sí es una bofetada en la cara' de los latinos.”

— Michelle Venegas (newsy-today.com)

“Trump tiene una versión errónea de los latinos. Cree que traemos delincuencia, malos hábitos, cuando nosotros siempre hemos trabajado…”

— Lenny Medina, Parking Attendant, San Juan, Puerto Rico (newsy-today.com)

“Los votantes hispanos no han visto cambios ni ganancias para su comunidad…”

— Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, Director, School of Political Management, George Washington University (newsy-today.com)

What’s next

The success of candidates who authentically engage with and address the needs of the Latino electorate will be crucial in the coming years.

The takeaway

The dynamic between the Latino community and both major political parties is in flux, with cultural identity and concerns about immigration increasingly shaping voter behavior alongside economic anxieties. Understanding the diversity within the Latino community and their evolving priorities will be key for political strategists.