Three-time Grammy winner Bad Bunny’s selection by the National Football League (NFL) to perform at the Super Bowl 60 halftime show has caused a political uproar in the United States. Even though the historic championship game is set for February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, the focus has shifted from football to immigration politics and cultural identity. Amid the Bad Bunny controversy, Trump allies threaten an ICE crackdown at the Super Bowl.
Trump Allies Threaten ICE Crackdown at Super Bowl Amid Bad Bunny Controversy
Bad Bunny’s 2024 Music Video Featured Fake Trump Apology Before Skipping Entire U.S. Tour (Screenshot Via X/@AccessBadBunny)
Senior figures within former President Donald Trump’s circle, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Trump advisor Corey Lewandowski, have openly criticized the NFL’s choice and issued chilling warnings of ICE enforcement at the venue.
Their comments have turned the Super Bowl halftime show into a new battleground in America’s culture and immigration wars.
Speaking onThe Benny Show, Noem said her department would have a heavy presence at the stadium, suggesting that undocumented immigrants could be detained during the event.
“I have the responsibility to make sure everybody who goes to the Super Bowl has the opportunity to enjoy it and to leave safely. That’s what America’s about,” Noemsaid. “We’ll be all over that place.”
Lewandowski reinforced that stance, suggesting there would be no haven for illegal immigrants, even at the Super Bowl.
“There is nowhere that you can provide safe haven to people who are in this country illegally. Not the Super Bowl and nowhere else,” he said. “We will find you. We will apprehend you. We will put you in a detention facility, and we will deport you.”
Corey Lewandowski reaffirmed the administration’s strict immigration policies, cautioning that undocumented people would not be protected at even the most prominent events, such as the Super Bowl.
Cultural Clash: Bad Bunny’s Spanish Halftime Show Sparks Divides
Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, will reportedly perform entirely in Spanish during his set. The NFL hopes this move will draw in global audiences. However, the choice has sparked mixed opinions across the country. Many conservatives have called the Puerto Rican star “un-American.” They cite his intense criticism of Trump’s immigration policies and his support for LGBTQ+ rights.
The 31-year-old artist recently shared his worries about ICE targeting immigrants outside his U.S. shows. He revealed that he had thought about canceling future performances in the country. His comments have only intensified the backlash from Trump aligned officials.
With Super Bowl LX now enmeshed in controversy months before kickoff, the NFL is under more pressure than ever to manage one of its most politically charged halftime shows ever. Sports, entertainment, identity, and national politics are all scrutinized.