Donald Trump had strong words for Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show, describing it as one of the worst, but many quickly pointed to an interesting twist in his comments.

The Seattle Seahawks celebrated a victory over the New England Patriots 29–13 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. However, the buzz wasn’t just about football; the halftime shows stole the spotlight.

For the first time, there were two viewing options during halftime. The NFL’s official spectacle featured Bad Bunny, while Turning Point USA provided a more conservative “All-American Halftime Show” with Kid Rock and other country musicians.

Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, made history as the first solo male Latin artist to headline the Super Bowl halftime show. He filled the stadium with energy, performing exclusively in Spanish and welcoming surprise guests like Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin. Fans also spotted Pedro Pascal, Cardi B, Karol G, and Jessica Alba on stage. The crowd danced along to hits like “Tití Me Preguntó,” “MONACO,” and “BAILE INoLVIDABLE,” all while spreading messages of love and unity.

Many celebrated the performance, seeing it as a landmark moment for Latin culture on one of America’s grandest stages. California’s Governor, Gavin Newsom, declared February 8 as “Bad Bunny Day,” and celebrities such as Katy Perry applauded the cultural impact of the show.

In contrast, Turning Point USA’s alternative program focused on themes like faith, family, and freedom. Yet, it garnered only about four million viewers on YouTube, compared to the NFL halftime show’s usual 127 million.

Critics weren’t kind to the alternative show either, pointing out lip-syncing and controversial past comments by Kid Rock, presenting a different perspective on the cultural divide.

Differing opinions arose around Bad Bunny’s complete Spanish performance, with some calling it political—including influencer Jake Paul, who termed it “anti-American.” It’s noteworthy since Puerto Ricans have been U.S. citizens since 1917, and ironically, both Paul brothers currently live in Puerto Rico.

Supporters countered by highlighting that performers like The Rolling Stones and U2 were not scrutinized in the same way, suggesting a double standard in the backlash Bad Bunny received.

During a Super Bowl viewing party at Mar-a-Lago, Trump shared his views on Truth Social, stating the halftime show was “terrible” and “disrespectful to America’s greatness.”

He criticized the performance for its Spanish lyrics, claiming it wasn’t suitable for children. He had earlier criticized the NFL for performer choices, stating these as reasons he wouldn’t attend.

The twist that amused social media was that Trump’s insight suggested he watched the NFL’s main broadcast—not the conservatively slanted “All-American” show, headlined by his supporter, Kid Rock.

This contradiction quickly became fodder for jokes online, as users noted Trump appeared to be watching and critiquing the mainstream halftime, despite having an aligned alternative available.

Despite promoting cultural alternatives, critics pointed out, Trump still tuned in to the main event—seemingly only to disagree with it.