The culture wars have stormed the Super Bowl, with Donald Trump launching a vitriolic attack on Bad Bunny’s history-making performance, branding it a disgrace to the nation.

It was a celebration of Latino heritage, a vibrant explosion of reggaeton, and a historic first for the NFL. But for former President Donald Trump, Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show was nothing short of a national insult. In a blistering tirade on Truth Social, Trump has reignited his feud with the Puerto Rican superstar, turning the country’s biggest sporting event into yet another political battleground.

Bad Bunny, the first solo Latin artist to headline the show, performed almost entirely in Spanish—a bold creative choice that resonated with millions of fans globally but alienated the "Make America Great Again" base. Trump’s reaction was swift and savage, labeling the performance "absolutely terrible" and an "affront to the Greatness of America."

The Anatomy of the Outrage

Trump’s critique went beyond musical taste; it was a targeted attack on the cultural identity of the performance. "Nobody understands a word this guy is saying," Trump complained, tapping into the nativist sentiment that often underpins his rhetoric. He went further, describing the choreography as "disgusting" and inappropriate for children, a classic dog-whistle used to delegitimize artistic expression from marginalized communities.

The animosity is mutual and deep-seated. Bad Bunny (Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio) has been a vocal critic of the Trump administration, particularly regarding its handling of Puerto Rico and immigration policies. The halftime show, which featured a wedding segment and guest appearances by Ricky Martin and Lady Gaga, was a defiant assertion of presence—a statement that Latino culture is American culture.

Trump, however, saw it as a "slap in the face." He juxtaposed the performance against his own metrics of success—the stock market and 401(k)s—attempting to frame the artistic display as a deviation from American excellence. "There is nothing inspirational about this mess," he wrote, predicting that the "Fake News Media" would praise it simply to spite him.

A Clash of Two Americas

The controversy highlights the widening chasm between two distinct visions of the United States. On one side, the NFL’s embrace of multiculturalism and global influence; on the other, Trump’s vision of a monocultural, English-speaking traditionalism.

• The Language Barrier: By performing in Spanish, Bad Bunny challenged the default assumption of English dominance in American primetime, a move Trump interpreted as exclusionary rather than inclusive.
• The Political Context: The attack comes amidst broader right-wing criticism of the NFL, including Trump’s complaints about the "ridiculous new Kickoff Rule," positioning him as the defender of "real" football against perceived wokeness.
• The Turning Point: While millions watched the official show, conservative groups like Turning Point USA streamed an alternative "All-American" show with Kid Rock, further fragmenting the national audience.

Bad Bunny ended his set with a powerful message: "The only thing more powerful than hate is love." For Trump, watching from Mar-a-Lago, that message was lost in translation. The Super Bowl has once again proven that in modern America, even a halftime show requires a political allegiance.