President Trump Condemns Bad Bunny’s Halftime Performance as “Gross” and an “Insult to America”
President Donald Trump has issued a blistering critique of the recent Super Bowl halftime show featuring global superstar Bad Bunny, labeling the performance “incomprehensible” and a “slap in the face” to the nation. The comments were released shortly after the event concluded, igniting a fresh wave of cultural debate surrounding the NFL’s premier entertainment showcase.
In a statement widely circulated on social media, Trump did not mince words regarding the production. “One of the worst ever. Nothing inspiring,” he wrote. He went on to characterize the show as “a slap in the face to a country breaking records and winning again,” specifically calling the artistic direction “gross” and implying that the performance failed to resonate with traditional American values.
Context and History
This latest condemnation fits a largely consistent pattern observed in Trump’s interactions with the NFL over the past decade. The former President has frequently utilized the Super Bowl halftime show as a barometer for the country’s cultural direction, previously issuing similar critiques of performances by Rihanna, as well as the 2022 hip-hop showcase featuring Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg.
The friction between Trump and Bad Bunny (Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio) is also rooted in political differences. The Puerto Rican reggaeton artist has been a vocal critic of Trump’s policies, particularly concerning the federal response to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and immigration rhetoric. By calling the performance “incomprehensible,” Trump’s remarks may highlight the linguistic and cultural divide, as Bad Bunny performs primarily in Spanish and incorporates avant-garde aesthetics that contrast sharply with the traditional patriotic themes Trump has championed for sporting events.
Objections and Counter-Perspectives
While Trump’s assertion that the show was “the worst ever” resonates with a specific segment of the viewing public—evidenced by social media echo chambers declaring “he’s not wrong”—industry metrics paint a different picture. Bad Bunny has held the title of the most-streamed artist globally on Spotify for multiple consecutive years, suggesting that while the performance may have been stylistically polarizing for some demographics, it was highly anticipated by a massive, younger, and increasingly diverse audience.
Critics of the President’s statement argue that describing the inclusion of a Latin American icon as an “insult to America” ignores the demographic shifts in the United States and the NFL’s strategic attempts to broaden its international appeal. Supporters of the artist maintain that the performance was a celebration of cultural identity rather than a political slight, viewing Trump’s comments as a continuation of established culture war grievances rather than an objective review of the musical production.
