Commentary: Bad Bunny is American; Coldplay is not. The right is selectively freaking out over the Super Bowl

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In an interview with the New York Post, former President Trump criticized the NFL’s decision to have Bad Bunny perform at the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show, calling it a “terrible choice” and claiming it will create division and negativity.

Corey Lewandowski, an advisor to the Department of Homeland Security, claimed that Bad Bunny appears to dislike the United States. He expressed his disappointment to conservative podcaster Benny Johnson, stating it was upsetting that someone who “seems to hate America” was chosen to perform at the halftime show.

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Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama claimed on Monday that the musician Bad Bunny spreads messages that are harmful to American values.

In essence, Bad Bunny—Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio—is being portrayed as someone who goes against the grain and doesn’t align with traditional American ideals. He’s even being blamed for disrupting the Super Bowl experience.

It’s common for people to argue about who should perform at the Super Bowl halftime show. But now, politics have entered the discussion, and some are criticizing the choice of Bad Bunny simply because he’s Latino, sings in Spanish, and isn’t American-born. Critics are framing the performance as disrespectful to the current president and his policies on immigration, especially because the songs are in Spanish.

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Historian Jorell A. Meléndez-Badillo believes Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance could help address a lack of knowledge about Puerto Rico and its complex relationship with the United States.

Bad Bunny is a U.S. citizen, like most Puerto Ricans born after 1898 due to a law passed in 1917. Since he was born in 1994, he qualified well before any potential changes to citizenship rules. If people are concerned about outsiders affecting American jobs or culture, there are many other non-native artists to focus on.

For many years, the Super Bowl has featured musical performances by artists who aren’t necessarily popular with American audiences, squeezed in between advertisements for brands like Doritos and Budweiser.

Okay, let’s talk Super Bowl halftime shows. Back in 2000, Phil Collins, a British artist, really brought the energy, and Enrique Iglesias added some Latin flair. Then, in 2002, U2, the iconic Irish band, took the stage – some folks at the time were a little upset they weren’t American artists getting the gig. And the following year? It was Shania Twain, a Canadian superstar, alongside Sting, a well-known English musician. It’s always interesting to see who they bring in from across the pond, isn’t it?

A wave of popular British artists followed, including Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones, the Who, and Coldplay. And let’s not forget Shakira’s energetic performance at the 2020 Super Bowl halftime show, or the Weeknd, whose smooth vocals sometimes make people forget he’s from Canada.

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Do you recall any backlash against performers for being immigrants? Probably not, because there wasn’t any. And if the reunited British band Oasis were to play the Super Bowl in 2026, it wouldn’t cause similar anger either.

Conservatives haven’t forgotten that Bad Bunny criticized the Trump administration’s response to the hurricane in Puerto Rico, or his opposition to the harsh treatment of immigrants by ICE. However, labeling him a critic is seen as overly aggressive. Instead, some are questioning his patriotism through subtle, racially charged language.

Turning Point USA, a conservative organization founded by Charlie Kirk and now led with his wife, Erika Kirk, is hosting a concert called the “All-American Halftime Show” as an alternative to the Super Bowl halftime show. The concert will feature performances by Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, and Gabby Barrett. It will be broadcast on X, along with conservative channels like TBN and OAN, around the same time as Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance.

After the lineup for an alternative music event was revealed this week, Kid Rock criticized Bad Bunny in a statement. He said that Bad Bunny’s plans for a performance featuring dancing, a dress, and Spanish lyrics were fine, but that his own show would focus on playing popular songs for patriotic fans.

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Kid Rock typically doesn’t perform in dresses like Bad Bunny, but it’s uncertain what songs he’ll choose to play as part of his patriotic show.

According to Turning Point spokesperson Andrew Kolvet, the upcoming show will emphasize conservative principles like faith, family, and freedom. Because of this, Kid Rock probably won’t perform his controversial 2001 song “Cool, Daddy Cool,” which contains lyrics some consider exploitative of underage girls, or his 2007 track “Lowlife (Living the Highlife)” which references drug use and racial stereotypes.

One thing is certain: He’ll continue to sing Trump’s praises, in English.

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2026-02-06 22:33