A wave of attention is building around the NFL’s decision to feature Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny as the headliner for the upcoming Super Bowl halftime show, with the President voicing strong disapproval.
During a phone appearance on “Greg Kelly Reports,” President Donald Trump called the NFL’s choice unreasonable. He admitted he didn’t know who the reggaeton star, Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, known professionally as Bad Bunny, was.
President Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC on October 6, 2025 | Source: Getty Images
Trump Slams NFL over ‘Crazy’ Decision
On the segment that ranged from urban crime to government spending, host Greg Kelly steered the conversation toward the league’s selection of Bad Bunny. He referred to the performer dismissively, saying, “The NFL just chose the bad bunny rabbit or whatever his name [is], this guy who hates ICE. He doesn’t like you. He accuses everything he doesn’t like of racism.”
He added that Bad Bunny “does not seem like a unifying entertainer, and a lot of folks don’t even know who he is.”
When asked to weigh in, Trump expressed apparent bewilderment. “I never heard of him. I don’t know who he is. I don’t know why they’re doing it. It’s like [sic] crazy, and then they blame it on some promoter that they hired to pick up entertainment. I think it’s absolutely ridiculous,” he said.
President Donald Trump is in a phone conversation with Greg Kelly on “Greg Kelly Reports, from a video post dated October 7, 2025 | Source: YouTube/ Newsmax
House Speaker Adds to Backlash
Adding to the attention, House Speaker Mike Johnson, in an interview on October 7, echoed Trump’s criticism. He said he was unaware of Bad Bunny before the announcement and suggested that the choice did not appeal to a broad audience.
Johnson also highlighted the Super Bowl’s massive global reach, particularly its influence on children, and argued that the halftime stage should spotlight role models rather than controversial figures.
Bad Bunny Opens up About U.S. Performance Concerns
While the rapper has not responded directly to Trump or Johnson, he has previously expressed his discomfort with performing in the U.S. due to concerns about immigration enforcement.
In a September 10, 2025, interview, he said that his past U.S. shows had been successful and meaningful for connecting with Latinos living in the country. However, he added that the presence of ICE at potential concerts was a serious concern:
“But there was the issue of — like, [expletive] ICE could be outside [my concert]. And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about.”
Bad Bunny performs live during “No Me Quiero Ir De Aquí; Una Más” Residencia at Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot in San Juan on September 20, 2025 | Source: Getty Images
Global Star Despite Critics
Despite the public pushback, Bad Bunny’s career continues to soar. In January 2025, he released “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS,” an ambitious project blending Puerto Rican genres like salsa, bomba, and plena with deep cultural and family themes.
He previously made history with “El Último Tour Del Mundo,” the first all-Spanish-language album ever to top the Billboard 200.
His 2022 blockbuster “Un Verano Sin Ti” remains Spotify’s most-streamed album of all time — a staggering feat in the streaming era. In addition to music, the Puerto Rican singer has appeared in films including “Bullet Train,” “Caught Stealing,” and “Happy Gilmore 2.”
Bad Bunny attends Columbia Pictures’ “Caught Stealing” premiere at Regal Union Square in New York City on August 26, 2025 | Source: Getty Images
Bad Bunny Confirms Super Bowl LX Halftime Performance
The artist officially confirmed his Super Bowl LX headlining gig on September 29, 2025, via an Instagram post captioned, “Super Bowl LX. Bay Area. February 2026.” Following this announcement, he will take the stage after Kendrick Lamar, whose Super Bowl LIX performance earned widespread praise for celebrating hip-hop culture.
The rapper also shared his thoughts on the NFL’s choice during his “Saturday Night Live” monologue on October 5, 2025, telling the audience:
“I’m doing the Super Bowl halftime show.[…] I’m very excited to be doing the Super Bowl. And I know that people all around the world who love my music are also happy.”
As the discussion heats up, one thing is clear: Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX performance is shaping up to be one of the most talked-about halftime shows in recent memory.
While critics question his appeal to a mainstream audience, the Puerto Rican superstar’s global influence and record-breaking career suggest that millions of fans are eagerly anticipating his performance.
