Politics Crashes the Halftime Show

The Super Bowl is supposed to be America’s biggest unifying spectacle — a night of touchdowns, confetti, and pop culture’s most dazzling 15 minutes. But this year, before a single note has been sung, controversy has already taken the field.

Donald Trump’s former campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, is making waves with a fiery claim: ICE agents will be “present at the Super Bowl” following the announcement that Bad Bunny will headline the halftime show.

The Halftime Star at the Center of the Storm

On September 28, the NFL confirmed that Bad Bunny, the Puerto Rican superstar who’s redefined Latin music for a global audience, will take center stage at Super Bowl 60 in California.

It’ll be his only U.S. performance during his “Most Wanted” world tour — a decision he explained in a September interview with i-D Magazine. The artist revealed that he and his team had real concerns about ICE raids if he performed in certain U.S. cities.

“There was the issue of ICE being outside my concert,” Bad Bunny said. “It’s something we were talking about and very concerned about.”

Days later, after his halftime slot was confirmed, the Grammy-winning rapper took to social media, writing (in Spanish):

“After talking with my team, I think I’ll do just one show in the United States.”

It should’ve been a triumphant announcement. Instead, it triggered a political storm.

“We Will Find You. We Will Deport You.”

Appearing on conservative influencer Benny Johnson’s podcast, Lewandowski issued a stern warning that left social media reeling.

“There is nowhere you can provide safe haven to people who are in this country illegally. Not the Super Bowl and nowhere else,” Lewandowski said.
“We will find you. We will apprehend you. We will deport you.”

He went on to criticize the NFL’s choice of headliner:

“It’s so shameful that they picked somebody who seems to hate America so much to represent them at halftime.”

The irony? Bad Bunny is an American citizen. Puerto Ricans are born U.S. citizens — a fact Johnson himself seemed shocked to learn in real time.

“How can you do the inside-outside thing? You’re an American. Show me your passport,” Johnson said, before Lewandowski awkwardly replied, “Yeah, you’re fine.”

Backlash, Support, and a Bigger Question

The comments immediately sparked backlash online, with critics accusing Trump’s team of fearmongering and racism.
Meanwhile, fans and politicians rushed to support Bad Bunny — including California Governor Gavin Newsom, who wrote on X (formerly Twitter):

“California is excited to welcome you to Super Bowl 60.”

But beyond the headlines, the moment reveals something deeper: the uneasy intersection of identity, art, and politics in modern America.

Bad Bunny, a proud Puerto Rican who’s used his fame to highlight social justice and queer visibility, has long challenged what it means to be an American artist. His inclusion at the Super Bowl — one of the country’s most-watched events — is both symbolic and historic.

And perhaps that’s exactly why it rattled the political right.

A Halftime Show That Already Means Something

The performance won’t just be about music — it’ll be about representation, resilience, and cultural power.
Whether Lewandowski’s words were a political stunt or a serious warning, one thing is certain: Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl appearance just became one of the most anticipated — and politically charged — performances in years.

As one fan tweeted:

“If Bad Bunny’s singing makes ICE nervous, he’s already won the halftime show.”