Super Bowl 2026: Donald Trump vs. Green Day
Entertainment plans take shape early
With Super Bowl LX still weeks away, the league’s focus has already shifted beyond football. The NFL has confirmed its opening ceremony performer for the February 8 game in Santa Clara, California, a decision that has quickly sparked debate far outside the sports world.
Green Day will open the event ahead of kickoff, performing as former Super Bowl MVPs are introduced onto the field. The appearance places the San Francisco based band on a global stage in their home region, marking one of the highest profile moments of the night.
According to the Daily Mail, the announcement follows the league’s earlier decision to book Bad Bunny as the halftime performer, a pairing that has reignited criticism from conservative commentators.
Why Green Day’s role is politically charged
Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong has been openly critical of Donald Trump for years, both on stage and in interviews. At the Download Festival in the United Kingdom last June, Armstrong told the crowd, “Donald Trump in his administration is a fascist government. And it’s up to us to fight back.”
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He has also led chants insulting Trump at concerts and, during performances of the band’s song American Idiot, has altered lyrics to include the line, “I'm not part of the MAGA agenda.”
These statements have made Green Day’s involvement in the Super Bowl controversial among Trump supporters, according to reporting by the Daily Mail.
Band welcomes the spotlight
Despite the criticism, Armstrong expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity. Speaking after the announcement, he said the band was “super hyped” to open Super Bowl 60 in their own backyard.
He added that the group felt honored to help welcome legendary players to the field and to perform for fans watching around the world. The NFL itself has not issued a public response addressing the political reaction to its entertainment lineup.
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Bad Bunny decision set the tone
The league’s choice of Bad Bunny as the halftime act had already drawn sharp reactions months earlier. The Puerto Rican artist has publicly criticized Trump’s immigration policies and previously declined to tour in the United States, citing concerns that fans could be affected by immigration enforcement.
Trump responded to the halftime announcement in October, dismissing the performer by saying, “I never heard of him, I don't know who he is, I don't know why they're doing it, it's like, crazy.” He later added that the decision was “absolutely ridiculous.”
Fan backlash grows online
Following Green Day’s confirmation, criticism resurfaced across social media. Some Trump supporters accused the NFL of promoting performers they described as “anti American,” while others called for boycotts of the game.
According to the Daily Mail, similar reactions followed the Bad Bunny announcement, suggesting that the league’s entertainment strategy has become a recurring flashpoint in broader political and cultural divisions.
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Super Bowl spectacle meets political reality
As the NFL continues to emphasize global reach and cultural relevance, its Super Bowl entertainment choices appear increasingly likely to draw political scrutiny. With both the opening ceremony and halftime show now linked to outspoken critics of Trump, Super Bowl LX is shaping up to be as contentious off the field as it is anticipated on it.
Sources: Daily Mail, reporting by Oliver Salt
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