Former president Donald Trump has lashed out at Bad Bunny following his selection as the Super Bowl 2026 headliner, calling it “ridiculous.”
Donald Trump wasted no time reacting to the announcement naming Bad Bunny as the main performer for the 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show. The 79-year-old former US president was blunt during his appearance on Newsmax’s Greg Kelly Reports on Monday, 6 October.
“I’ve never heard of him,” Trump said dismissively. “I don’t know who he is. I don’t know why they’re doing it. It’s, like, crazy.” His comments come amid a backdrop of political and cultural tension in the United States, where the Puerto Rican singer has become a symbol of diversity, Latin identity and global disruption.
Trump didn’t stop there. He went on to criticise the NFL’s new kickoff rules, which were made permanent at the start of the 2025 season. Under the current regulations, the ball is kicked from the kicking team’s 35-yard line, but all players — except the kicker — must have at least one foot on the receiving team’s 40-yard line and cannot move until the ball hits the ground or is caught within the 20-yard zone.
“While we’re at it, I’d like them to change the kickoff rule. It’s ridiculous. The ball floats in the air and everyone just stands there watching. It’s not safer and it makes football look terrible. Honestly, I think it devalues the game.”
Trump’s criticism stands in sharp contrast to Bad Bunny’s vibrant and rebellious approach, with the artist recently addressing the controversy while hosting the season premiere of Saturday Night Live.
