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President Donald Trump has criticized the selection of Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny as the headliner for the Super Bowl LX halftime show in 2026, calling the choice "absolutely ridiculous." Speaking to Newsmax host Greg Kelly, Trump said, "I never heard of him. I don't know who he is. I don't know why they're doing it, it's crazy, and then they blame it on some promoter that they hired to pick up entertainment. I think it's absolutely ridiculous."
The announcement, made on September 28 by the NFL and Apple Music, marks Bad Bunny's only scheduled U.S. performance in 2026, as his Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour will not stop in the country. The 31-year-old performer told i-D magazine that his decision to limit U.S. dates stemmed from concerns over Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity. "F---ing ICE could be outside [my concert]," he said, adding that it was a serious concern for him and his team.
Following the announcement, the rapper-singer celebrated the milestone on social media, writing, "I've been thinking about it these days, and after discussing it with my team, I think I'll do just one date in the United States." He described the performance as a career highlight that would be "for my people, my culture, and our history."
Bad Bunny also addressed critics while hosting Saturday Night Live on October 4, joking that detractors have "four months to learn" Spanish, after sharing a message in Spanish about Latinos' contributions to the U.S. He said, "It's more than a win for myself, it's a win for all of us. Our footprints and our contribution in this country, no one will ever be able to take that away or erase it."
Trump's former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski echoed the president's disapproval, calling the pick "shameful" and claiming that Bad Bunny "seems to hate America so much." Lewandowski also warned that ICE agents would be present at the event. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem later confirmed the plan, saying, "We'll be all over that place... I have the responsibility for making sure that everybody [who] goes to the Super Bowl has the opportunity to enjoy it and to leave, and that's what America is about."
Despite the political backlash, Bad Bunny remains one of the world's most-streamed artists, with nearly 80 million monthly Spotify listeners. Roc Nation and Jesse Collins will executive produce the Apple Music Super Bowl LX halftime show on February 8, 2026, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.