Donald Trump slams Super Bowl halftime as party footage tells another story
Trump did not attend the game in Santa Clara, California, citing the distance involved. Ahead of the Super Bowl, however, he made his opposition to the halftime lineup clear, criticizing the NFL’s decision to feature Bad Bunny and Green Day.
“I’m anti-them. I think it’s a terrible choice. All it does is sow hatred. Terrible,” Trump said before the game.
The comments echoed criticism from some conservative commentators, particularly over Bad Bunny, the Puerto Rican artist selected to headline the show. Reuters and the Associated Press reported that conservative group Turning Point USA announced plans for a separate “all-American” alternative event in response to the NFL’s choice.
Watching from Mar-a-Lago
Rather than traveling to the stadium, Trump hosted a Super Bowl watch party at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Guests there watched as the Seattle Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots 29-13.
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When halftime arrived, video clips that later circulated on X and other social platforms appeared to show Bad Bunny’s performance playing uninterrupted on large screens at the venue. The footage drew attention because it contrasted sharply with Trump’s earlier remarks.
There was no visible attempt to mute or bypass the performance, a detail that many online commenters highlighted as ironic.
A blistering verdict online
Shortly after the halftime show aired, Trump posted a strongly worded reaction on X, formerly Twitter.
"The Super Bowl Halftime Show is absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER! It makes no sense, is an affront to the Greatness of America, and doesn’t 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."
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The post quickly spread, prompting an immediate wave of reaction across social media.
Pushback from the media
Trump was not alone in disliking the halftime show, but his comments also drew criticism from figures across the media. Among them was British journalist and broadcaster Piers Morgan, who publicly challenged the former president’s assessment.
"Couldn’t disagree more, Mr President. I absolutely loved Bad Bunny’s halftime show. Amazing (best in Super Bowl history?) theatre/choreography, great energy, superbly confident performance, and a very welcome unifying message. Oh, and Spanish is 1st language for 50m+ Americans!"
The exchange underscored how a single halftime performance quickly became a broader cultural and political talking point.
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More than a halftime show
By the end of the night, the most enduring image for many viewers was not just the performance itself, but the contrast between Trump’s public denunciation and the same show playing on screens at his own Super Bowl gathering.
Once again, the Super Bowl proved how easily entertainment, politics, and symbolism can collide on one of America’s biggest stages.
Sources: Reuters, Associated Press, posts by Donald Trump and Piers Morgan on X, NFL broadcast footage.
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