House Speaker Mike Johnson has voiced his disapproval of Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny being selected as the 2026 Apple Music Super Bowl halftime show performer<\/a>, suggesting a country singer would be a better fit.<\/p>\n The 31-year-old reggaetonero recently addressed the criticisms surrounding his forthcoming performance <\/a>during his “Saturday Night Live” monologue<\/a> on Oct. 4. His second stint on SNL came just a week after it was announced he would be taking on one of the biggest stages in music.<\/p>\n \u201cYou might not know this, but I’m doing the Super Bowl halftime show and I’m very happy,\u201d he said in English, then joked, \u201cI think everyone is happy about it, even Fox News.\u201d<\/p>\n Doja Cat, Bad Bunny, and Chloe Fineman during promos for “Saturday Night Live.”<\/p>\n “More than a personal achievement, it\u2019s an achievement for all of us [Latinos] \u2014 demonstrating that our footprint and our contributions in this country can never be removed or erased,” he said in Spanish, before inviting audiences to learn the language if they didn\u2019t understand.<\/p>\n Here’s what else to know and who Johnson suggested as a better candidate.<\/p>\n Johnson recently weighed in on the debate surrounding Bad Bunny\u2019s selection for the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show, saying he wasn\u2019t familiar with the artist but still believed it was a \u201cterrible decision.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere are so many eyes on the Super Bowl \u2014 a lot of young, impressionable children,\u201d Johnson said in a clip posted online<\/a> Oct. 7, adding that \u201980s country star Lee Greenwood would have been America\u2019s \u201cclear and obvious preference,\u201d citing Greenwood\u2019s appeal to \u201ca broader audience.\u201d<\/p>\n Greenwood is a country music singer and songwriter<\/a>, best known for his patriotic anthem \u201cGod Bless the U.S.A.\u201d<\/p>\n Johnson’s sentiments echo those of President Donald Trump, who on Oct. 6 told Newsmax’s Greg Kelly that\u00a0he had “never heard” of Bad Bunny<\/a>.<\/p>\n During the interview with Trump, Kelly alleged that Bad Bunny “hates ICE” and “accuses everything he doesn’t like of racism,\u201d USA TODAY <\/a>reported. The conservative news host also pushed the president on whether viewers should boycott the NFL over their choice of Super Bowl halftime entertainer.<\/p>\n Trump responded, “I never heard of him. I don’t know who he is, I don’t know why they’re doing it, it’s like crazy. \u2026 Then they blame it on some promoter that they hired to pick up entertainment. I think it’s absolutely ridiculous.”<\/p>\n In 2017, Bad Bunny criticized Trump\u2019s response to Hurricane Maria, which devastated Puerto Rico. The “Tit\u00ed Me Pregunt\u00f3” singer later endorsed former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, sharing her message condemning Trump\u2019s handling of the crisis.<\/p>\n His support came shortly after comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who goes by the stage name Kill Tony, referred to Puerto Rico as a \u201cfloating island of garbage,\u201d a remark that sparked widespread backlash.<\/p>\n Critics disparaging the choice include conservative influencer Robby Starbuck<\/a>, who called for an \u201cAmerican\u201d to perform at the Super Bowl. Bad Bunny is a citizen of Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory. Puerto Ricans are Americans.<\/p>\n On Oct. 1, Trump\u2019s former 2016 campaign manager Corey Lewandowski said that ICE may be present at Bad Bunny\u2019s 2026 Super Bowl halftime performance.<\/a> In September, Bad Bunny revealed he was omitting the U.S. from his upcoming world tour due to concerns about ICE <\/a>raids at his concerts.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is nowhere you can provide safe haven to people who are in this country illegally. Not the Super Bowl and nowhere else,” said Lewandowski. “We will find you, we will apprehend you, we will put you in a detention facility and we will deport you. So know that is a very real situation under this administration.\u201d<\/p>\n Homeland Security Secretary\u00a0Kristi Noem\u00a0then claimed the administration would be sending immigration officials to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara and called the NFL “so weak” for their choice of performer.<\/p>\n Contributing: USA TODAY<\/p>\n Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for the Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com or follow her on X at @_leyvadiana<\/p>\n<\/span><\/div>\n
Mike Johnson, Donald Trump weigh in on Bad Bunny Super Bowl halftime show performance<\/h2>\n
Critic says Super Bowl should choose an “American” performer. Puerto Ricans are Americans<\/h2>\n