President Donald Trump's Super Bowl watch party at his Trump International Golf Club in Florida featured a surprising centrepiece: the halftime performance by Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny, whom Trump had vocally criticised in the weeks leading up to the event. Despite branding the show as "absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER!" on his Truth Social platform, footage from the gathering clearly shows Bad Bunny's set being played on a giant screen for attendees.
Public Criticism Versus Private Viewing
Trump had spent weeks publicly slamming the decision to allow Bad Bunny to perform at Super Bowl LX, with his MAGA supporters urging people to watch an alternative halftime show organised by Turning Point USA instead. The president had previously announced he would not attend the Super Bowl in person. However, the watch party footage reveals that Trump, like millions of other Americans, ensured he did not miss the much-discussed performance by the Latin music superstar.
Political Allies Share Glimpses of Exclusive Gathering
Several prominent political figures shared images and experiences from Trump's exclusive Super Bowl party. Senator Lindsey Graham posted a photograph of himself beside a beaming president on social media platform X, accompanied by the caption: "Enjoying Super Bowl LX with President Trump and team. @POTUS is Reagan Plus — A man of his word."
Entrepreneur Alex Albarran also expressed his joy at being invited to the gathering, sharing a picture of himself grinning by the entrance and writing: "Great to attend President @realDonaldTrump's Super Bowl party and connect with some amazing people." Senator Eric Schmitt provided supporters with another peek into the event, posting an image of himself laughing during a conversation with the president.
The Roots of Trump's Feud with Bad Bunny
The tension between Trump and Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, stems from the rapper's repeated criticisms of the president's immigration policies, which have often targeted Hispanic Americans. Bad Bunny's thirteen-minute Super Bowl performance served as a celebration of Latin culture, featuring appearances by Puerto Rican celebrities including Pedro Pascal and Cardi B.
The show included segments where Bad Bunny handed the stage to iconic performers Ricky Martin and Lady Gaga, culminating in the star standing before a banner reading: "The only thing more powerful than hate is love." His only English line—"God bless America"—preceded a listing of nations across the Americas, while dancers brandished flags representing the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and other countries.
Alternative MAGA Halftime Show Features Kid Rock
Meanwhile, the Turning Point USA event presented a quintessential MAGA alternative, opening with a dedication to Charlie Kirk and featuring a rendition of the national anthem performed on electric guitar. The headline act was musician-turned-Trump-superfan Kid Rock, whose real name is Robert Richie.
It remains unknown whether President Trump tuned in to watch Kid Rock's performance, as he has yet to comment on it. However, the Michigan-born singer faced criticism from some social media users who alleged he was lip-syncing during his set. Observers noted that Rock's voice remained crystal-clear while he belted out his 1999 hit "Bawitdaba," despite his head moving away from the microphone at times.
Additional moments appeared to show the singer's mouth movements being out of sync with the live audio, prompting one social media user to comment: "Kid Rock couldn't even be bothered to sing live. Instead, some truly awful lip-syncing." The performer has not yet addressed whether he was miming during the performance.
