President Donald Trump delivered a blistering rebuke of the all-Spanish Super Bowl LX halftime show on Sunday night, denouncing Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunnys performance as a slap in the face to the United States.
The President, posting on Truth Social, declared, The Super Bowl Halftime Show is absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER! and went on to argue that the spectacle was fundamentally at odds with American values and cultural standards. According to WND, Trump continued,
It makes no sense, is an affront to the Greatness of America, and doesnt represent our standards of Success, Creativity, or Excellence. Nobody understands a word this guy is saying, and the dancing is disgusting, especially for young children that are watching from throughout the U.S.A., and all over the World.
Trump framed the performance as emblematic of a broader cultural decline, insisting that the show insulted a nation he says is otherwise thriving economically and setting records. This Show is just a slap in the face to our Country, which is setting new standards and records every single day including the Best Stock Market and 401(k)s in History! he wrote, tying his cultural criticism to his familiar message of American greatness and prosperity.
The President also predicted that establishment outlets would rush to praise the show, casting their likely reaction as further proof of media disconnect from ordinary Americans. There is nothing inspirational about this mess of a Halftime Show and watch, it will get great reviews from the Fake News Media, because they havent got a clue of what is going on in the REAL WORLD And, by the way, the NFL should immediately replace its ridiculous new Kickoff Rule. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! he added, reiterating his long-standing criticism of both the press and the leagues recent rule changes.
Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martnez Ocasio, delivered the performance almost entirely in Spanish, with only three English words spoken during the segment: God bless America. A scoreboard message during the show proclaimed, The only thing more powerful than hate is love, a slogan that fit neatly within the NFLs recent embrace of progressive social messaging but did little to address concerns about cultural cohesion or family-friendly content.
Reaction from viewers online reflected a deep divide over the direction of the NFLs marquee entertainment event, with many echoing Trumps frustration and questioning the leagues priorities. One commenter wrote, We just witnessed a Third World halftime show, while another observed, Fair reaction, but controversy is basically built into the halftime formula now.
Others saw the performance as part of a broader ideological project rather than mere entertainment, with one critic stating, Hes not wrong. The indoctrinators were salivating. Another viewer, objecting to the international political overtones, asked pointedly, Who gives a crap about Bolivia or Peru during an American football halftime show?
Even some Spanish speakers expressed confusion and dissatisfaction, suggesting the performance failed to connect even with its presumed target audience. Im at work right now and we have a s**t ton of Mexicans here. Even the Spanish speakers said they couldnt understand what he said was he rapping too fast or ? one person remarked, underscoring the sense that the show was more about spectacle and signaling than communication.
Critics also accused the NFL of prioritizing cultural provocation over wholesome entertainment suitable for families gathered around the television. This is why the NFL cant quit culture war halftime slop. They want the headlines more than the music. If youre broadcasting to families, act like it. And if youre gonna book a non English act, at least give people a reason to care besides shock value, one commenter argued, reflecting a growing conservative sentiment that the league is alienating its core American audience.
Some went further, framing the choice of headliner as an affront to patriotic and religious Americans and calling for economic pressure on corporate sponsors. The choice of Bad Bunny was a slap in the face of USA loving people and Christians everywhere. Not watching was a good beginning but not enough. An example needs to be made. Boycott APPLE sponsor of the NFL halftime show, a viewer urged, signaling a willingness among conservatives to respond with organized boycotts.
While NBC aired Bad Bunnys performance to a global audience, millions of viewers opted for an alternative rooted in traditional American themes and openly Christian messaging. Instead of Bad Bunny on NBC, millions watched the Turning Point USA All-American Halftime Show festering Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice and Gabby Barrett, a lineup that emphasized country, rock, and patriotic sensibilities over identity politics.
The events finale underscored that contrast, as Kid Rock, performing under his real name Robert Ritchie, closed with an explicit call to faith and redemption. His final song urged Americans to turn back to Scripture and to Christ, as he sang: Theres a book sitting in your house somewhere that could use some dusting off, theres a man who died for all our sins hanging from a cross, you can give your life to Jesus and Hell give you a second chance, until you cant.
On the field, the Seattle Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots 29-13, but for many conservative viewers, the real contest was over the cultural soul of the country rather than the Lombardi Trophy.
As debates over language, values, and public morality increasingly play out on the nations biggest stages, the clash between an all-Spanish, sexually charged halftime show and a faith-centered alternative underscores the widening gap between corporate entertainment elites and millions of Americans who still expect the Super Bowl to reflect, rather than reject, their traditions and beliefs.
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