Bad Bunny makes history at the Super Bowl as Trump criticizes the ‘terrible’ show
Bad Bunny delivered a historic Super Bowl halftime performance on Sunday, celebrating Puerto Rican culture and Latin identity on a global stage.
As a result, the 31-year-old artist became the first performer to headline a Super Bowl halftime show entirely in Spanish. This achievement marked a major milestone during the most-watched television event in the United States.
Throughout the 14-minute performance, Bad Bunny focused on unity across the Americas. In particular, he highlighted pride in his roots and his deep connection to Puerto Rico.
Meanwhile, the stage design reflected everyday island life. For example, it featured a traditional home setting that has become a signature element of his live shows.
During the set, Bad Bunny performed a medley of his biggest hits. He moved through a string of crowd favorites, including Tití Me Preguntó, MONACO, and BAILE INoLVIDABLE.
The show also featured high-profile guests. Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin joined him during the set, while Pedro Pascal, Cardi B, Karol G, and Jessica Alba appeared on stage during the performance.
At one point, Bad Bunny spoke briefly in English. He briefly spoke in English, saying “God bless America,” and then listed countries from Central, South, and North America. As this happened, dancers carried national flags across the stage.
Behind them, a large message appeared. A message behind the stage read, “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.” The performance closed with Bad Bunny holding a football marked with the words “Together, We Are America.”
While the imagery carried clear symbolism, the singer avoided direct political messaging. The performance stayed centered on culture, heritage, and a message of togetherness.
Still, former US President Donald Trump reacted sharply to the show. Soon after the show ended, he posted his criticism on his social media platform, Truth Social.
On social media, Trump called the performance “absolutely terrible” and said it showed a lack of respect for American values. However, he did not attend the Super Bowl, which took place at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
At the same time, a conservative organization hosted an alternative event. The “All-American Halftime Show” featured singer Kid Rock, who openly supports Trump.
Throughout the show, Bad Bunny wove in moments rich with symbolism that reflected his heritage and personal message. For instance, he wore a beige sweater marked with the number 64. Many viewers interpreted this as a reference to the official death toll from Hurricane Maria in 2017.
Later in the performance, he climbed an electricity tower while continuing to sing. As a result, many saw the moment as a tribute to those affected by the storm and its lasting impact on Puerto Rico’s infrastructure.
Family themes also appeared throughout the show. For example, Bad Bunny handed his Grammy Award to a child while a previous acceptance speech played on a small television screen.
Notably, the Super Bowl marked his first major US performance since releasing his Grammy-winning album Debí Tirar Más Fotos.
Earlier, Bad Bunny said he had avoided performing on the US mainland because he worried about immigration authorities potentially targeting his shows. He emphasized, however, that his decision was never motivated by hostility.
At the Super Bowl, he incorporated elements from his ongoing world tour into the performance, bringing familiar set pieces and themes to the stage. The tour has already travelled across Latin America and will continue in Australia, Japan, and Europe.
Finally, Bad Bunny closed the performance by naming several countries and territories. At that moment, the flags of Puerto Rico and the United States appeared side by side behind him.
The performance was widely seen as a landmark celebration of Latin culture on one of the world’s largest stages.
