Trump rules out Super Bowl trip, criticizes NFL's choice of Bad Bunny and Green Day as 'terrible'
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump said that he would not attend this year’s Super Bowl, criticizing the artists selected to perform during the halftime show. In an exclusive Oval Office interview with the New York Post, published on Saturday, January 24, Trump said that he opposed the inclusion of Latin music star Bad Bunny and rock band Green Day, both of whom have been outspoken critics of him.
While voicing strong disapproval of the performers, Trump said that his decision not to attend the game was primarily logistical. The Super Bowl is scheduled for February 8 in San Francisco.
Trump criticizes halftime lineup while ruling out Super Bowl appearance
The president said that he was unhappy with the NFL’s choice of halftime performers, arguing that their inclusion was divisive. “I’m anti-them. I think it’s a terrible choice. All it does is sow hatred. Terrible,” Trump said.
The president was referring to Bad Bunny and Green Day, both of whom have publicly criticized him and his policies.
Bad Bunny, a Puerto Rican-born artist with a large global following, had incorporated political themes into his music and spoken out against Trump in the past.
Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong had also voiced support for anti-deportation protesters in Minnesota, saying, “I’m not a part of a redneck agenda. I’m not a part of the MAGA agenda.”
Despite his criticism of the performers, Trump said that their selection was not the deciding factor in his absence from the event.
“It’s just too far away. I would. I’ve gotten great hands for the Super Bowl, they like me,” Trump said. “I would go if, you know, it was a little bit shorter.”
Trump attended last year’s Super Bowl in New Orleans, where the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs.
That game drew significant attention due to the presence of pop star Taylor Swift, who was cheering on Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
Trump previously criticized Bad Bunny in other media appearances.
Reacting to the news last year that the Puerto Rican star would headline a future Super Bowl halftime show, Trump said, “I think it’s absolutely ridiculous. I’ve never heard of him.”
Bad Bunny's rise from SoundCloud to global stardom
Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio was born in 1994 in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico.
Known professionally as Bad Bunny, his stage name was inspired by a childhood photo showing him dressed in a bunny costume with a grumpy expression. While attending college, he began uploading music to SoundCloud, gradually building an audience.
In 2016, his song “Soy Peor” gained widespread attention on YouTube, leading to a record deal. His profile rose rapidly through collaborations with major artists including Cardi B, J Balvin, Drake and Rosalía, helping him reach audiences far beyond the Latin music market.
Often referred to as the “King of Latin Trap,” Bad Bunny won three Grammy Awards and 12 Latin Grammy Awards.
He also has a large social media presence, with more than 49 million followers on Instagram and over 35 million on TikTok.
Although widely known within the Latin music world for years, Bad Bunny gained additional mainstream attention after the NFL announced in September 2025 that he would headline the Super Bowl halftime show in February 2026.
