Republican officials and conservative groups are pushing back against the NFL’s decision to feature Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny in this year’s Super Bowl halftime show, turning the event into another flashpoint in the party’s broader fight over immigration, culture, and national identity.
The performance, scheduled for Sunday at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, will place Bad Bunny—born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio—before a global audience expected to exceed 100 million viewers. The 31-year-old reggaeton artist, a U.S. citizen from Puerto Rico, has built global fame blending modern reggaeton with traditional Puerto Rican and Caribbean styles. His recent album, whose title translates to “I Should Have Taken More Pictures,” centers on migration, cultural loss, and Puerto Rico’s relationship with the mainland.
President Trump led conservative criticism, calling the NFL’s choice “terrible” and “absolutely ridiculous.” Several Republicans followed suit, with some lawmakers saying they plan to skip the halftime show entirely, reported The New York Post. One senator dismissed the broadcast as the “woke bowl,” while Trump has said he will watch the game but switch away during halftime.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem initially pledged that immigration officers would be present at the event, though the Department of Homeland Security later clarified that no immigration enforcement operations were planned. Conservative commentator Tomi Lahren falsely claimed Bad Bunny is not a U.S. citizen, despite automatic citizenship for those born in Puerto Rico.
Conservative activists have also moved to counterprogram the performance. Turning Point USA announced it will stream an alternative “All-American Halftime Show” featuring Kid Rock, a Trump supporter. Spokesman Andrew Kolvet said the event aims to “celebrate this country” rather than what he described as the focus of the NFL’s show. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other conservatives have promoted the idea online. Viewers can watch the Turning Point Halftime Show on TV through the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) and One America News Network.
Polling reflects the partisan divide. A Quinnipiac survey found only 16% of Republicans approving of Bad Bunny’s selection, compared with nearly three-quarters of Democrats. In Florida, just 40% of Republicans said they planned to watch the halftime show.
The backlash is fueled by Bad Bunny’s past political statements, including criticism of the Trump administration’s immigration policies and his remarks at a recent Grammy ceremony, where he declared “ICE out” and dedicated his award to immigrants who “leave their home, land, their country, to follow their dreams.”
Don’t be surprised if half the country tunes out, tired of having leftists lecture them and chide the country for not supporting open borders and the socialist utopia they promise.
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