Trump Slams NFL for Picking Bad Bunny as Super Bowl Halftime Performer: ‘Absolutely Ridiculous’
President Donald Trump is blasting the NFL’s decision to feature Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny as the Super Bowl LX halftime performer, calling the move “crazy” and “absolutely ridiculous” during an interview on Greg Kelly Reports.
“I never heard of him. I don’t know who he is, I don’t know why they’re doing it,” Trump said when asked about the controversial choice. “It’s crazy. And then they blame it on some promoter they hired to pick the entertainment.”
Newsmax host Greg Kelly had posed the question by calling Bad Bunny “not a unifying entertainer” and suggesting Americans consider “blowing off the NFL” in protest.
The criticism comes on the heels of the league’s September 28 announcement that Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Ocasio, will headline the most-watched television event of the year. Ocasio is known for his harsh anti-ICE rhetoric and has publicly referred to federal immigration agents as “motherf*ers” and “sons of b**es.”
He previously said he refused to perform in the United States due to concerns that ICE might target his fans. “There was the issue of — like, f***ing ICE could be outside,” he admitted in a past interview. “And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about.”
Adding fuel to the fire, none of Bad Bunny’s songs are in English, prompting criticism that the NFL is further alienating its core American audience.
During a Saturday Night Live appearance, the reggaeton artist brushed off the backlash and addressed critics directly. Speaking in Spanish, he declared, “It’s more than a win for myself; it’s a win for all of us,” referring to the Latino community. He later added in English, “If you didn’t understand what I just said, you have four months to learn.”
Calls to boycott the NFL erupted across social media shortly after the announcement, with critics accusing the league of pandering to identity politics while sidelining American traditions and values.
Super Bowl LX will take place at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Sunday, February 8, 2026. Whether the NFL rethinks its decision in light of mounting backlash remains to be seen.