Bad Bunny Makes Super Bowl History as Trump Criticises Show

Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny delivered a Super Bowl halftime show centred on cultural pride, unity, and his roots in Puerto Rico, marking a historic moment in the event’s history.

The 31 year old became the first artist to perform an entire Super Bowl halftime show in Spanish. The National Football League event is traditionally the most watched television broadcast in the United States.

Bad Bunny included a single English phrase, “God bless America,” before naming countries across Central, South, and North America as dancers carried their national flags.

A tribute to Puerto Rico and Latin culture

The 14 minute performance featured guest appearances from Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, alongside cameos from Pedro Pascal, Cardi B, Karol G, and Jessica Alba.

Much of the performance unfolded around Bad Bunny’s signature casita set, designed to resemble a traditional Puerto Rican home. The show traced visual scenes from Puerto Rican life, including a nail salon, a neighbourhood bar, and a sugarcane field.

He performed a medley of major hits such as Tití Me Preguntó, MONACO, and BAILE INoLVIDABLE. Family themes appeared throughout, including a staged wedding scene and a moment where he handed a Grammy trophy to a child.

Symbolism and social references

Bad Bunny climbed an electricity pylon during the show, a reference many viewers linked to infrastructure damage caused by Hurricane Maria in 2017. He also wore a beige sweater marked with the number 64, which some interpreted as referencing the official death toll from the storm.

Puerto Rico, a self governing U.S. territory, has often criticised federal disaster responses following major hurricanes. The performance did not include direct political criticism, but several visual elements carried symbolic meaning.

A message behind the stage read, “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.” At the end of the segment, Bad Bunny held a football bearing the words, “Together, We Are America.”

Trump reacts to performance

Despite the absence of explicit political statements, U.S. President Donald Trump criticised the performance on his social media platform Truth Social.

Trump described the halftime show as “absolutely terrible” and said it was “an affront to the Greatness of America.” He also commented that viewers could not understand the lyrics.

Trump did not attend the Super Bowl. An alternative event titled the All American Halftime Show was organised by Turning Point USA and featured singer Kid Rock.

Context around recent activism

Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has previously used major platforms to speak on social issues. At the Grammy Awards earlier this year, he criticised U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement by calling for “ICE out.”

Last year, he chose not to tour the U.S. mainland, citing concerns about immigration enforcement affecting his fans. He later said his decision was not driven by hostility toward the country.

A milestone moment

The performance took place at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, and marked Bad Bunny’s first U.S. performance since releasing his Grammy winning album Debí Tirar Más Fotos.

It was also his first Super Bowl appearance as the headline act, after a guest performance with Shakira in 2020.

The show ended with Bad Bunny naming several countries and territories, including Puerto Rico and the United States, while their flags appeared side by side.

Observers described the performance as a major moment for Latin representation on one of the world’s largest entertainment stages.