Former president Donald Trump says he plans to skip this year’s Super Bowl, using the occasion to launch a sharp verbal attack on the NFL’s choice of halftime performers Green Day and Bad Bunny. In a recent interview with the New York Post, Trump described both acts as politically hostile and accused the league of deliberately platforming performers who oppose him.
“I’m anti-them. I think it’s a terrible choice,” Trump said bluntly. “All it does is sow hatred. Terrible.”
The comments come amid ongoing culture-war tensions between Trump and prominent figures in the entertainment industry. Green Day has long been outspoken in progressive politics, frequently criticizing conservative leaders in both lyrics and live performances. Bad Bunny, meanwhile, has emerged as one of the most influential global pop stars of the past decade, while also using his music to comment on immigration and Puerto Rican identity.
Despite the harsh rhetoric, Trump insisted that the halftime show lineup is not the primary reason for his absence. Instead, he cited logistics, noting that this year’s game is being held at Levi’s Stadium, a location he described as inconvenient.
“It’s just too far away,” Trump said. “I would go if it was a little bit shorter. I’ve gotten great hands at the Super Bowl. They like me.”
The Super Bowl has historically been a high-profile cultural and political stage, and Trump has often used major sporting events to reinforce his public image. He attended last year’s Super Bowl and was also present at the College Football Playoff National Championship earlier this year, underscoring that his decision to skip the NFL’s biggest night is notable rather than routine.
Trump’s animosity toward Bad Bunny appears rooted in the artist’s music and political messaging. The rapper’s track Nuevayol features a Trump-like voice apologizing to immigrants for U.S. immigration policies, a moment that went viral and drew praise from immigrant advocacy groups. The monologue emphasizes the contributions of Latino communities, including Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, and others—sentiments that directly clash with Trump’s hardline immigration stance.
For critics, Trump’s comments reinforce the idea that the Super Bowl halftime show has become another front in America’s broader political divide. For supporters, they reflect a willingness to confront what Trump has often described as a politically biased entertainment industry.
Either way, his decision ensures that this year’s Super Bowl will generate headlines even before kickoff. With Trump absent, Green Day and Bad Bunny are likely to perform without the former president in attendance—but not without his commentary shaping the conversation around the event.