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Bad Bunny’s Spanish-Language Super Bowl Halftime Show Draws Praise—and a Rebuke From Trump

Conservatives seized on the culturally focused performance to mount counterprogramming.

Overview

  • Performed almost entirely in Spanish at Levi’s Stadium on Feb. 8, the set showcased Puerto Rican and pan‑American themes as Bad Bunny carried a “Together We Are America” football, recited countries across the Americas, and closed with “The only thing more powerful than hate is love” on stadium screens.
  • The production moved from a sugarcane field to a rooftop streetscape and included a staged wedding, an electrical‑pole climb and the artist handing a Grammy to a child, with musical cameos by Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin and appearances from Cardi B, Karol G, Pedro Pascal, Alix Earle and Jessica Alba.
  • President Trump denounced the show on Truth Social as “absolutely terrible,” calling it “one of the worst, EVER,” a “slap in the face to our Country,” and criticizing the Spanish‑language delivery and dancing.
  • Turning Point USA aired an “All‑American” alternative halftime livestream headlined by Kid Rock, drawing at least four million viewers concurrent with the official show, according to reporting.
  • Latino audiences and commentators hailed the set as a breakthrough for representation and unity, and media outlets reiterated that viral claims Bad Bunny wore a bulletproof vest at the Grammys were debunked.