With Super Bowl LX set for February 8, 2026, the game itself is already being overshadowed by a growing cultural and political divide. The NFL’s decision to name global superstar Bad Bunny as the official halftime headliner has sparked fierce backlash—and prompted a conservative counter-movement led by Turning Point USA (TPUSA).
Bad Bunny’s selection ignited immediate criticism from right-wing commentators, including President Donald Trump, who dismissed the choice as “terrible” and claimed the league had lost touch with its audience. Trump said he would skip the game altogether, arguing the performance would only deepen cultural division. The artist, a Puerto Rican-born U.S. citizen, has never shied away from political messaging. At the 2026 Grammys, where he made history as the first Spanish-language artist to win Album of the Year, he delivered a pointed pro-immigrant message. His recent music has continued that stance, including a track featuring a simulated apology from Trump to immigrants.
Bad Bunny has also made clear he won’t adjust his Spanish-language performances for the Super Bowl audience, bluntly telling critics they had “four months to learn.”
That unapologetic posture helped fuel TPUSA’s response. Under new leadership following founder Charlie Kirk’s death, the organization announced an alternative “All-American Halftime Show.” The lineup—Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, and Gabby Barrett—was positioned as a patriotic counter to what TPUSA calls the NFL’s “global pop” direction.
Kid Rock, a vocal Trump ally, framed the effort as a grassroots challenge to the NFL’s cultural dominance. Still, critics quickly pointed out the irony of promoting a “family values” show headlined by an artist known for explicit lyrics. Supporters, including J.D. Vance, praised the lineup, while online reaction remained sharply divided. Many mocked the event as outdated, questioned its cultural relevance, and noted the contradiction of labeling a Spanish-speaking American artist as “un-American.”
More than a music debate, the competing halftime shows symbolize a broader fight over identity and representation. For the NFL, Bad Bunny reflects a younger, multilingual, and globally connected America. For TPUSA, the alternative broadcast is an attempt to reclaim a vision of traditional American culture they believe is under threat.
As Super Bowl Sunday approaches, the football may take a back seat to the cultural showdown playing out across the airwaves—where the real contest isn’t about points on the field, but about whose vision of America takes center stage.