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Donald Trump has confirmed that he will not be attending the upcoming Super Bowl and has criticised two of the artists booked to perform, branding them a “terrible” choice.
Puerto Rican global star Bad Bunny is set to headline the half time show at this year’s 60th Super Bowl, a decision that has sparked strong reaction from sections of the MAGA movement. Charlie Puth has been announced to sing the US national anthem, Brandi Carlile will perform ‘America the Beautiful’, and Green Day are scheduled to play during the opening ceremony.
In comments made to the New York Post yesterday January 24, the President, who attended last year’s Super Bowl, said he would not travel to Levi’s Stadium on February 8, citing distance as the main reason. “It’s just too far away,” he said.
“I’ve gotten great hands at the Super Bowl. They like me,” he continued. “I would go if, you know, it was a little bit shorter.” Alongside complaining about the location, Trump also took aim at Bad Bunny and Green Day, both of whom have been outspoken critics of him in the past. “I’m anti them,” he said, referring to the musicians.
“I think it’s a terrible choice. All it does is sow hatred. Terrible.”
He had previously described the decision to have Bad Bunny headline as “crazy” and claimed he had “never heard of” the artist. One of his advisers also confirmed that ICE would be present at what they described as a “shameful” concert.
Before the announcement of the half time slot, Bad Bunny had told fans he would not be touring the US during his current world tour, citing concerns over ICE agents potentially raiding his shows, comments that appeared to inflame far right groups.
In response, Turning Point USA, an organisation founded by the late Charlie Kirk, revealed plans for an alternative ‘All American Halftime Show’. The event will take place at the same time as the NFL broadcast, with Sting confirmed as the performer.
Despite the backlash, the NFL has stood by its decision. Commissioner Roger Goodell told reporters that the league was confident in the booking and said the move had been “carefully thought through”.
Jay-Z, who acts as the NFL’s music strategist through Roc Nation’s partnership with the league, has publicly supported Bad Bunny on more than one occasion. He described the artist as “truly inspiring” and said his team felt “honoured to have him on the world’s biggest stage”. More recently, he questioned whether the backlash was genuine, adding: “They love him. Don’t let them fool you”.
Bad Bunny has since promised that “the world will dance” during his half time performance, sharing the message in a bold new advert.
Elsewhere, his album ‘Debí Tirar Más Fotos’ landed at Number Five on NME’s list of the Best Albums Of 2025 and was praised as a release where “the Puerto Rican superstar makes every shot count”.
“It’s a breathtaking extravaganza in every way, from his joyful blending of salsa, bomba, plena, reggaeton and countless other Latin styles, to the scale and ambition of the storytelling,” the write up said.
His single ‘Baile Inolvidable’ also placed at Number 10 in NME’s Best Songs of 2025 list, where it was hailed as “one of his most magnificent torch songs”.
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