As Super Bowl LX approaches, Bad Bunny’s halftime show has turned into a national political and cultural controversy. What began last fall with Bad Bunny skipping US tour dates because of fears around ICE raids has now grown into a much larger debate, even leading to a presidential boycott of the Super Bowl.
In January, President Donald Trump said he would not attend the Super Bowl. He described the trip as “too far away,” but he also strongly criticized the NFL’s choice of performers. Referring to both Bad Bunny and Green Day, Trump said he was “anti-them” and called the lineup a terrible choice that “sows hatred.” His comments followed months of criticism aimed at Bad Bunny.
The backlash has also included comments from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who said ICE agents would be “all over” the Super Bowl. These statements added to the fear that originally led Bad Bunny to avoid US tour dates in fall 2025.
Bad Bunny has said his performance is meant to celebrate his people, culture, and history. As the Super Bowl nears, the focus has shifted from whether the show will be entertaining to what it represents. The event has become a test of how the country responds to a multicultural and multilingual vision of America, played out on the world’s biggest stage.
Will Donald Trump attend Super Bowl LX?
Trump said he will not attend next month’s Super Bowl LX in Northern California, saying the trip is “too far away.” He told the New York Post that he would have considered going if the flight were shorter. The game will be played on 8 February at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. By skipping it, Trump will not repeat his appearance from last year’s Super Bowl in New Orleans, where he became the first sitting US president to attend the event.
During his second term, Trump has made frequent appearances at major sporting events. These included the Daytona 500, the college football national championship, and the Ryder Cup at Bethpage in New York. Most of these events were close to Florida or the US east coast, making travel easier from the White House or his Mar-a-Lago residence.
Trump also criticized the NFL’s Super Bowl entertainment lineup. This year’s halftime show will be headlined by Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny, with punk rock band Green Day performing pregame. Trump said he was against the choices and called them terrible, saying they “sow hatred.”
He has previously said the selection of Bad Bunny was ridiculous and claimed he did not know who the artist was. Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has openly criticized Trump and last year chose to perform a month-long concert residency in Puerto Rico instead of touring the mainland US.
NFL Defends Super Bowl Halftime Show Amid Controversy
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in October that the league would not change its decision. He said Bad Bunny was selected because of his global popularity and described the backlash as something that usually happens around Super Bowl entertainment. Goodell said the league is confident the show will be successful.
Trump said the presence of Bad Bunny and Green Day was not the reason he decided not to attend the game. Green Day has a long history of political lyrics, and lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong has publicly criticized Trump and supported protests against the administration’s immigration policies.
The Super Bowl remains the most-watched annual television event in the United States. Last year’s game averaged nearly 130 million viewers in the US, with another 62.5 million watching internationally. The championship game for this year’s Super Bowl will be played between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks.
FAQs
Q. Why did Bad Bunny skip US tour dates in fall 2025?
A. Bad Bunny avoided US tour dates because of fears related to ICE raids.
Q. Will Donald Trump attend Super Bowl LX?
A. No, Donald Trump said he will not attend the Super Bowl, saying the trip is “too far away.”
Q. Who is headlining the Super Bowl LX halftime show?
A. Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny is headlining the halftime show.
Q. Has Trump attended a Super Bowl before?
A. Yes, Trump attended last year’s Super Bowl in New Orleans, becoming the first sitting US president to do so.
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