Trump calls Bad Bunny's Super Bowl performance "disgusting" and "terrible"

Bad Bunny (Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio) made history on Sunday by becoming the first artist to perform an entire Super Bowl halftime show almost entirely in Spanish.  The performance drew backlash from critics who deemed it "un-American," including Donald Trump, who called it "terrible" and disgusting," while others supported the singer.

Bad Bunny's 14-minute set featured a roster of guest performers and cameos, including Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin, Pedro Pascal, Cardi B, Karol G, and Jessica Alba. This performance marked Benito's return to the Super Bowl stage, having previously appeared as a guest of Jennifer Lopez and Shakira at Super Bowl LIV in Miami in 2020.

Still from Bad Bunny's Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show on NFL YouTube

The performance also featured several visual and political statements. A message displayed on a billboard read, "The only thing more powerful than hate is love." Bad Bunny then ran the light-blue flag of Puerto Rican independence across the field, while performers on power lines symbolized the frequent blackouts caused by the island's deteriorating energy infrastructure.

Concluding his set, Benito proclaimed, "God bless America," before listing Chile, Argentina, and all of South and Central America and the Caribbean, finally naming the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. His final message was, "Seguimos aquí" ("We're still here"), followed by him spiking a football that read: "Together, we are America."

Additionally, an unexpected event unfolded as a couple got legally married on stage. Initially thought to be part of the show, NBC News later confirmed the wedding was genuine; the couple had been invited after sending Bad Bunny an invitation to their own wedding.

Still from Bad Bunny's Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show on NFL YouTube

During his performance, Bad Bunny symbolically gave his Grammy for Album of the Year to a young child. Initial speculation arose that the boy was Liam Ramos, the five-year-old who had been detained by ICE in Minnesota the previous month. However, it was later revealed that the child was actually just a young actor.

Bad Bunny used his acceptance speech for the Grammy Awards last Sunday to share a message about ICE, continuing his frequent public criticism of the agency.

"Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say … ICE out," he said. "We’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans."

The artist also acknowledged that the threat of ICE enforcement at his concerts was a factor in his choice not to tour the mainland US.

Still from Bad Bunny's Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show on NFL YouTube

After the Super Bowl performance, responses started to pour in. Donald Trump used Truth Social to launch a lengthy attack on Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime Show.

"The Super Bowl Halftime Show is absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER! It makes no sense, is an affront to the Greatness of America, and doesn’t represent our standards of Success, Creativity, or Excellence," said Trump. "Nobody understands a word this guy is saying, and the dancing is disgusting, especially for young children that are watching from throughout the U.S.A., and all over the World," he continues "There is nothing inspirational about this mess of a Halftime Show and watch, it will get great reviews from the Fake News Media, because they haven’t got a clue of what is going on in the REAL WORLD."

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez,  supported Bad Bunny’s performance, by tweeting "Boricua bowl let’s gooooo".

Gavin Newsom also tweeted “Thank you Bad Bunny for taking the California stage and using your voice at SuperBowl LX. A beautiful moment! Together, we are America.”

While superstar Bad Bunny headlined the Super Bowl XL Halftime Show, a concurrent, alternative "All-American Halftime Show" was aired by the conservative group Turning Point USA. This competing performance featured pro-Trump singer Kid Rock, alongside country musicians Brantley Gilbert, Gabby Barrett, and Lee Brice. The show ended with a tribute to the late Turning Point founder, Charlie Kirk.