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In a comment that has sparked widespread debate, President Donald Trump stated he is unfamiliar with globally renowned music superstar Bad Bunny, while criticizing the National Football League’s (NFL) decision to select the artist as the headliner for the 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show.
The Newsmax Interview
President Trump made the remarks during an interview on Newsmax’s Greg Kelly Reports on October 6. The conversation was prompted by host Greg Kelly, who questioned the NFL’s choice, alleging that Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, “hates ICE” and “accuses everything he doesn’t like of racism.” Kelly then asked if viewers should boycott the NFL over the decision.
In response, President Trump said, “I never heard of him. I don’t know who he is, I don’t know why they’re doing it, it’s like crazy… I think it’s absolutely ridiculous.” He further suggested that the NFL was “blaming it on some promoter that they hired to pick up entertainment,” an apparent reference to Roc Nation, the company led by Jay-Z that has produced the halftime show since 2019.
Context of the Controversy
The president’s comments come amidst a conservative backlash following the announcement of the Puerto Rican singer as the Super Bowl LX halftime performer. Bad Bunny is one of the most-streamed artists globally, with billions of streams and a massive international following, particularly among Latin audiences.
Critics, primarily from conservative media and Republican political figures, have voiced objections focusing on the artist’s use of the Spanish language in his music and his past political activism. Bad Bunny has been a vocal critic of the Trump administration’s immigration policies, including expressing concern that federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents could target attendees at his concerts in the United States. Following the Super Bowl announcement, some officials threatened to station ICE agents outside the game’s venue.
Bad Bunny’s Response
Days before President Trump’s remarks, Bad Bunny hosted the season premiere of Saturday Night Live and addressed his critics with humor. Towards the end of his opening monologue, he spoke in Spanish, celebrating the halftime show as an achievement for all Latinos in the United States and worldwide. He then switched to English, delivering a pointed joke: “If you didn’t understand what I just said, you have four months to learn!“
The selection of Bad Bunny is largely seen by his fans and supporters as a major milestone for the representation and visibility of Latin music on one of the world’s biggest stages. However, the political friction surrounding the performance has turned the 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show into a significant cultural flashpoint months before kickoff.
The clip from the Newsmax interview provides more detail on how Donald Trump reacted to Bad Bunny being selected as the Super Bowl Halftime Performer.
