Photo Credit:Associated Press
In the wake of Super Bowl LX, President Donald Trump has ignited a firestorm by labeling Bad Bunny’s halftime performance a “slap in the face” to the American people. The President took to Truth Social late Sunday night and followed up with a televised interview on Monday, February 9, 2026, to criticize the spectacle, which featured a heavy emphasis on Puerto Rican pride and Spanish-language lyrics.
The performance at Levi’s Stadium, which saw the global superstar deliver a high- energy medley of hits including “Titi Me Preguntó” and “Monaco,” was widely praised by music critics for its vibrant choreography and celebration of Caribbean culture. However, President Trump took issue with the lack of “traditional American themes” during the fifteen-minute set. Speaking from the White House, the President argued that the Super Bowl (an event he described as the “pinnacle of American spirit”) should prioritize English-language performances and patriotic imagery.
“It was a very beautiful stage, very expensive, I’m sure,” the President remarked during a Fox News segment. “But you have a situation where half the country doesn’t even know what’s being said. We are a country that speaks English, and to have a halftime show that is almost entirely in another language is a slap in the face to our history and our traditions. It felt like it was for another country, not for the United States.”
The President’s comments specifically targeted a segment of the show where a massive Puerto Rican flag was projected onto the field, accompanied by a call for the island’s decolonization. Trump suggested that the performance was “overly political” and argued that the NFL was alienating its core audience. “People want to watch football, they want to hear the National Anthem, and they want to see American stars,” he added. “Bad Bunny is very popular, I get it, but we need to put America first, even at halftime.”
The backlash to the President’s remarks was instantaneous. Representatives for Bad Bunny pointed to the artist’s massive contribution to the U.S. economy and his status as a U.S. citizen. Supporters of the show noted that Puerto Ricans are Americans, and that the performance reflected the country’s evolving demographics. As the debate continues to trend on social media, the clash highlights the deep-seated tensions between the administration’s “America First” cultural agenda and the increasing globalization of the entertainment industry.
