Mike Johnson pushes for Lee Greenwood to replace Bad Bunny at Super Bowl

WASHINGTON, DC: House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed his disapproval after the NFL announced Bad Bunny as the headliner for the Super Bowl halftime show.

Johnson called the NFL’s pick of the Puerto Rican singer-songwriter “a terrible decision.”

He said he wasn’t familiar with Bad Bunny and added that the halftime performance would have been a better fit for country music singer Lee Greenwood.

What did Mike Johnson say about NFL’s choice of Bad Bunny for Super Bowl halftime show?

Mike Johnson didn’t hold back when asked about the NFL’s decision, “I didn’t even know who Bad Bunny was, but it sounds like a terrible decision, in my view,” Johnson told a reporter.

He suggested that Lee Greenwood, 82, the country singer known for his patriotic anthem “God Bless the USA”, would have been a much better fit.

“Well, it sounds like he’s not someone who appeals to a broader audience,” Johnson said, explaining why he believes the NFL made the wrong choice.

“There are so many eyes on the Super Bowl, a lot of young, impressionable children, and I think, in my view, you would have Lee Greenwood or role models doing that,” he said. “Not somebody like this.”

A couple of weeks ago, Greenwood performed at the memorial service for conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

What did President Donald Trump say about NFL’s Choice?

President Trump weighed in on the controversy, criticizing the NFL for selecting Bunny as the halftime performer. During an appearance on NewsMax’s Greg Kelly Reports, the host confronted Trump about the NFL’s decision.

He pointed out that the rapper has publicly criticized ICE and has spoken out against the president. Trump admitted he was unfamiliar with Bad Bunny.

"Never heard of him. I’ve never heard of him. I don’t know who he is… I don’t know why they’re doing it. It’s crazy. And then they blame it on some promoter they hired to pick up entertainment." Trump went on to describe the choice as "absolutely ridiculous."

Bad Bunny responds to backlash during 'SNL' monologue

The Rapper, who hosted 'Saturday Night Live' (SNL) over the weekend, subtly addressed the backlash and criticism surrounding his upcoming Super Bowl halftime performance during his opening monologue.

“You might not know this but I'm doing the Super Bowl halftime show and I'm very happy and I think everyone is happy about it, even Fox News,” he said, drawing laughter and applause from the audience.

He continued, sharing his excitement for the global spotlight. “Thank you. Wow, thank you. But really, I am very excited to be doing the Super Bowl and I know that people all around the world who love my music are also happy.”

Bunny then spoke in his native tongue for a brief portion of his monologue, taking a subtle shot at his critics and expressing gratitude to those who paved the way for him. "Especially all of the Latinos and Latinas in the world here in the United States who have worked to open doors."

He continued, "It's more than a win for myself, it's a win for all of us."

He closed this segment of his monologue with a playful challenge to anyone who might not understand Spanish: "If you did not understand what I just said, you have four months to learn."