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Only in the Trump era could the nation’s biggest sporting event almost turn into an immigration checkpoint. When news broke that Apple Music, the NFL, and Roc Nation had officially announced Bad Bunny as the headliner for the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Sunday, February 8, 2026, the Trump administration did not see history in the making. They reportedly saw an opportunity to threaten the event with ICE agents, hoping to scare immigrants away from attending.
Think about that. The Super Bowl halftime show, the most-watched musical performance of the year, is set to feature the three-time GRAMMY winner who has dominated global streaming charts and elevated Latin music to the center of pop culture. But instead of celebrating what promises to be one of the most dynamic halftime shows ever, Trump’s camp panicked at the thought of a Puerto Rican artist owning America’s biggest stage.
Bad Bunny himself described the honor as something larger than a concert: “What I’m feeling goes beyond myself. It’s for those who came before me and ran countless yards so I could come in and score a touchdown… this is for my people, my culture, and our history. Ve y dile a tu abuela, que seremos el HALFTIME SHOW DEL SUPER BOWL.” His words echoed what millions of Latinos in America already know, that his success represents not just a win for music, but a win for cultural pride and representation.
Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter, whose Roc Nation has been a driving force behind the NFL’s halftime partnerships, praised him. “What Benito has done and continues to do for Puerto Rico is truly inspiring. We are honored to have him on the world’s biggest stage.” NFL executive Jon Barker highlighted his “ability to bridge genres, languages, and audiences,” while Apple’s Oliver Schusser noted that his music “has elevated Latin music to the center of pop-culture” and promised the show would be “unforgettable.”
The irony could not be starker. Apple Music, Roc Nation, and the NFL see a global superstar whose influence is a cultural celebration. Trump, on the other hand, sees a threat. Reports of him considering ICE patrols at the Super Bowl to intimidate immigrants underline how far he was willing to go to dampen that celebration. Imagine America’s most iconic family event turned into a deportation scare tactic, all because one artist was “too Latino, too popular, too successful.”
And here is the truth. Bad Bunny is not just popular. He is a proven ratings magnet. His 2022 tour was the highest-grossing ever for a Latin artist. He has been Spotify’s most-streamed artist for multiple years in a row, outperforming even Taylor Swift. When he opened the Grammys, viewership spiked. He represents the fastest-growing music market in the United States, and his halftime show guarantees younger, multicultural, and bilingual audiences will tune in. For the NFL and advertisers, it is not just a smart move, it is the best move.
But Trump’s version of patriotism is not about celebrating America’s cultural diversity. It is about fear. The same man who tossed paper towels to Puerto Ricans after Hurricane Maria reportedly wanted to line the Super Bowl with ICE agents, as though families attending the biggest football game of the year were the enemy. Nothing says “America first” quite like trying to shrink America’s audience.
In reality, the only thing under threat is not national security. It is Trump’s ego. The halftime show will bring record ratings, international attention, and cultural pride, everything he can no longer control.
So yes, Trump wanted ICE at the Super Bowl. But all he really did was remind the country that fear will never outshine music, culture, and celebration.
The people should press Trump about those Epstein files just as much as he presses on immigration and Democrats.
