U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that he will not attend Super Bowl LX, after launching harsh criticism of the selection of Bad Bunny as the halftime performer and Green Day as the opening act for the NFL’s biggest event.
In an interview granted from the Oval Office to the New York Post, Trump called the musical lineup for Super Bowl 2026, which will be held in February in San Francisco, “a terrible choice”, arguing that the artists promote divisive messages.
“I’m against them. I think it’s a terrible decision. All they do is sow hatred. It’s terrible”, the president said.
Trump rules out traveling to Super Bowl LX
Although the criticism of the artists sparked controversy, Trump assured that his absence from Super Bowl LX is also due to logistical and travel reasons.
“It’s too far away. “I would go if it were a bit shorter”, the president explained, noting that he has historically had a good relationship with the NFL and its fans.
Controversy over Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime performance
The NFL’s decision to choose Bad Bunny as the halftime headliner has sparked mixed reactions, especially among conservative circles in the United States. Critics point out that his Spanish-language music and his stances on immigration and Puerto Rico’s political status make him a controversial choice for the Super Bowl audience.
The controversy intensified after the release of his song “Nuevayol” (2025), in which he imitates Trump’s voice and delivers a message in favor of migrants:
“This country is nothing without migrants… without Mexicans, Dominicans, Puerto Ricans, Colombians, Venezuelans, and Cubans”.
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Green Day and their open criticism of Trump
Meanwhile, Green Day, a band originally from the Bay Area, will be in charge of the opening ceremony for Super Bowl LX. Its vocalist, Billie Joe Armstrong, has been a constant critic of Trump and his political movement.
Durante presentaciones en vivo, Armstrong ha modificado la letra del tema American Idiot para incluir referencias al lema MAGA (Make America Great Again). Además, en julio pasado encabezó consignas contra Trump durante el Download Festival, lo que reforzó la controversia en torno a su participación en el evento de la NFL.
Background: Trump and the Super Bowl
Trump attended the 2025 Super Bowl in New Orleans, where he witnessed the Philadelphia Eagles’ victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. He also recently received an ovation during the college football national championship in Miami, which he attended with his daughter Ivanka and his granddaughter Kai.
NFL Conference Championships
In the sports arena, this Sunday Drake Maye will be the key figure as the New England Patriots face the Denver Broncos for the American Conference title, with their sights set on returning to the Super Bowl after Tom Brady’s departure in 2019.
At the National Conference, the Atlanta Falcons will face the Los Angeles Rams, led by Sean McVay, the 2022 Super Bowl champion.
