Bad Bunny, a Puerto Rican singer/songwriter, was the performing artist for the 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show. Since he was announced as this year’s performer, opposition arose from some Americans, questioning whether he was the right choice. Most of this controversy was because Bad Bunny exclusively sings in Spanish and has consistently spoken out against the Trump administration and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
As a way to protest the performance, Turning Point USA, a conservative organization co-founded by Charlie Kirk, hosted the “All-American Halftime Show.” This show featured artists such as Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert, and Gabby Barrett. According to TPUSA, the goal of the show was “intended to celebrate music, faith, and family values without a political messaging that positions them as an alternative entertainment option rather than a direct competitor to traditional halftime events.” They also claim that the All-American Halftime Show is a family-friendly, appropriate music event for people who just want to enjoy good music, as opposed to the Super Bowl, which is not appropriate for younger audiences.
During the All-American Halftime Show, there were a recorded 6.1 million people watching mostly via YouTube, compared to an estimated 135 million viewers watching the Super Bowl Halftime Show.
As expected, the Halftime show was sung almost exclusively in Spanish, except for a featured song from Lady Gaga, which was performed in English. There were also numerous political statements seen throughout the show.
The overall imagery showcased specific elements of Puerto Rican culture, such as dancing, Puerto Rican flags, and traditional games. There was also a moment where Bad Bunny said “God bless America” and proceeded to list all of the countries across North and South America, and carried those countries’ flags across the stage.
Despite being very vocal about abolishing ICE, there was no explicit message related to anti-ICE or the current government. However, there was a moment during the show where a little boy was watching the speech that Bad Bunny gave at the Grammys. In this speech, Bad Bunny says “ICE OUT”, and “We are not savages, we are not animals, we are not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans.”
The overall vibe of the show was uplifting and fun, showing off Puerto Rican culture and advocating for a sense of unity among all American countries. The performance ended with the song “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS”, which has been used often over social media, often accompanied with an anti-ICE, or pro-immigration post. A sign could also be seen which read “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.”
