The political gunpowder ended up exploding just minutes after the lights at Levi’s Stadium went out following the halftime show. President Donald Trump, following the event closely from his residence (after canceling his personal attendance), used his Truth Social platform to launch a frontal attack against Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny, raising cultural tension to levels not seen in decades within the framework of Super Bowl LX.
With the vehemence that characterizes his direct communication, the president did not limit himself to aesthetic criticism, but went to the heart of the nation’s linguistic identity and family values.
Trump criticizes halftime show
“The Super Bowl halftime show is absolutely terrible, one of the worst in history!” sentenced Trump in his first post on Truth Social.
However, what resonated most in the Hispanic community was his direct allusion to the language barrier and the artistic style of the“Bad Rabbit“.
The president added, “No one understands a word this guy is saying, and the dancing is disgusting, especially to young children watching it all over the United States and around the world.”
These statements strike a chord with the more than 60 million Hispanics in the country, suggesting that Spanish – or the lyrical variant of reggaeton – is an alien or incomprehensible element to the “real” America that his administration promotes under the MAGA slogan.
A Super Bowl marked by division
This was Bad Bunny’s halftime show at the #SuperBowl https://t.co/PBlYbUbT6M
– Real Time (@RealTimeRating) February 9, 2026
This attack is not an isolated event. It adds to the coordinated strategy of his cabinet, including Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, to promote alternative programming to avoid the “official show.”
Trump’s criticism focuses on three pillars that have defined his 2026 speech:
Rejection of today’s popular culture: Describing it as a distraction from traditional values.
Criticism of linguistic diversity: By pointing out that “nobody understands”, it makes invisible the huge bilingual audience that made the show a worldwide trend.
Child protection as a political argument: Using the term “repugnant” to describe choreographies that, in other contexts, are accepted as part of contemporary artistic expression.
What impact does this have for the Hispanic reader?
For Hispanics living in the U.S., these words from the president are more than a musical review; they are an indicator of the social climate.
When a president calls the performance of the most successful Latin artist of the modern era “unintelligible” and “disgusting,” it sends a message of disapproval of the culture that artist represents.
In an election year or year of high political friction such as this 2026, these statements often precede changes in integration narratives or public policies.
It is vital that the community stay informed and united, recognizing that the success of figures like Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl is ultimately a validation of the economic and cultural weight of Latinos in the U.S., despite resistance from the White House.
Despite the presidential criticism, early digital audience data suggests that Bad Bunny’s show could break records for views on streaming platforms, ironically fueled by the enormous conversation generated by his detractors.
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