Why Donald Trump Thinks Bad Bunny As 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show Headliner Is 'Absolutely Ridiculous'

Donald Trump is not afraid to say exactly how he feels about Bad Bunny headlining the 2026 Super Bowl.

The President of the United States recently slammed the NFL for choosing the three-time Grammy Award winner to headline one of the biggest events of the year. 

Bad Bunny was recently announced as the headliner for the 2026 Super Bowl despite declining the opportunity to bring his tour to the continental U.S. due to Trump’s recent crackdown on immigrants. 

Trump made a guest appearance on NewsMax’s “Greg Kelly Reports” on Monday. During the discussion, Kelly asked the president to share his opinion on Bad Bunny being the headliner for the Apple Music Super Bowl LX halftime show.

The host reminded the president that Bad Bunny is someone who “hates ICE,” doesn’t like the president, and “accuses everything he doesn’t like of racism."

Trump replied, saying he had no idea who Bad Bunny was. “I’ve never heard of him… I don’t know who he is,” he said, per Entertainment Weekly.

The president then went ahead to slam the NFL, saying that they made a poor choice by selecting the Puerto Rican rapper to perform on one of the biggest stages in America. 

“I don't know why they're doing it. It's crazy. And then they blame it on some promoter they hired to pick up entertainment— I think it's absolutely ridiculous,” Trump added. 

Trump’s statement comes over a week after the NFL announced Bad Bunny as the halftime performer for the 2026 Super Bowl. 

Bad Bunny reacted to the announcement by sharing a sentimental message about how his performance will be significant in history and his culture. 

“What I'm feeling goes beyond myself. It’s for those who came before me and ran countless yards so I could come in and score a touchdown,” he said.

“This is for my people, my culture, and our history,” he added. 

Prior to the announcement, Bad Bunny had avoided performing in the continental U.S. due to fear that ICE would target his concertgoers.

As such, his 2026 Super Bowl performance would mark his only appearance this year in the continental U.S., as he has performed strictly in areas such as Puerto Rico, Australia, Europe, and Latin America. 

Bad Bunny’s concerns seem justified as the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that ICE agents will be stationed at the 2026 Super Bowl. 

Entertainment Weekly reported that Noem said ICE has the responsibility of ensuring that everyone who attends the Super Bowl “has the opportunity to enjoy it and leave” because “that’s what America is about.” 

Noem also said that ICE agents will be “all over” the Super Bowl because they’re going to enforce the law. 

“I think people should not be coming to the Super Bowl unless they're law-abiding Americans who love this country," she said.

When asked if she thinks the NFL was trying to send Trump a message by choosing Bad Bunny as the headliner, the DHS secretary said, “They suck and we’ll win and God will bless us.”

Noem’s comments came after fans aired theories that Bad Bunny would use the Super Bowl platform to take a stance against Trump’s administration. 

As The Blast reported, one fan wrote, “Do you guys realize how f-cking HUGE this is. He's refusing to tour America right now bc of the ICE but is choosing to do the biggest show, aka the halftime. He is definitely going to make a political statement.”

Another comment read, “Using the biggest stage on US television to send a message about this administration and ICE is iconic to me.”

Bad Bunny has used his music to take a stance against Trump’s administration in the past. As such, it’s not so far-fetched to think that he would do the same during his Super Bowl performance. 

On July 4, the 31-year-old singer released the video for "NUEVAYol," which he used to address Trump’s harsh policies against immigrants in America. 

Many right-wing activists slammed Bad Bunny for his message, writing that he needs to mind his own business and “stay out of politics,” according to The Blast.

Another enraged MAGA supporter wrote that the president should deport the 11-time Latin Grammy Award winner since he “hates the U.S so much.”