Since Sept. 28th, Bad Bunny (Benito Antonio Martinez-Ocasio) has attracted MAGA leaders and influencers after announcing he’s selected to perform the 60th Super Bowl Halftime Show. Many voiced their distaste for the star, accusing him of weaponizing his performance against the Trump Administration. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem later joined the conversation after Puerto Rican reggaeton artist hosted SNL on Oct. 4th.
Ocasio shows he’s mentally prepared for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids to tackle the sporting event. The SNL Broadcast allowed him to express why his 60th Super Bowl performance is crucial to surpass the divided nation’s ongoing discrimination.
Fueled by the Trump Administration’s Mass Deportation
2025 saw one of the nation’s biggest upheavals of the century when Donald J. Trump returned to office in January. One of his first executive orders is to eliminate the Federal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. According to him and his administration, former President Joe Biden wasted US spending on Executive Order 13985. This law included protection of legal US citizens, travelers, and LGBTQ-identified individuals.
He claims it negatively affected the Latino and other Spanish-speaking communities as he promised a mass deportation sweep. He justifies saying that the government is ensuring that no alleged Mexican drug cartels or gangs will use their goods to promote terrorism.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s April deportation ignited the controversy when he was assumed to be a Mara Salvatrucha 13 (MS-13) member. He was relocated to El Salvador, then returned to the US after Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen pointed out that the courts failed to give him the right to due process. Abrego Garcia continues to press his case while under the protection of Pennsylvania’s Moshannon Valley Processing Center.
ICE Raids Made Bad Bunny Pull US Tour
The following months have seen ICE detain multiple alleged criminals who are under targeted suspicion. As of Sept. 21st, 59,762 people have been contained. Trac Reports Inc. estimated that 71.5% of these individuals have no criminal convictions.
Celebrities of Hispanic descent, including Bad Bunny, feared that their public appearances would lead enforcement officers to their venues. According to CNN, Ocasio pulled his US concert tour dates to prevent the arrest of his Latino and Puerto Rican fans.
He then added, “There were many reasons why I didn’t show up in the US, and none of them were out of hate. I’ve enjoyed connecting with the Latinos who have been living here in the US.” At the time, Bad Bunny was promoting his latest album, Debí tirar más fotos. His US fans continued to support his world tour and his decision for their safety.
MAGA and ICE Meltdown Over Super Bowl Decision
Both MAGA and ICE ridiculed Jay-Z’s Roc Nation when they chose Bad Bunny to perform for the 60th Super Bowl. The reggaeton decided to take the opportunity and to express his gratitude on Entertainment Weekly. He gleefully exclaimed, “I’m really excited for my friends, my family, Puerto Rico, all the Latino people around the world. I’m excited to show passion for my culture and everything, not just for me.”
Along with the announcement, Ocasio was honored to guest-host SNL’s 51st season premiere on Oct. 4th. The broadcast featured a jab at President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The skit addressed Hegseth’s desired military standards and the president’s bruised hand from his attempted late-night show purge.
Bad Bunny appeared at the end, continuing to celebrate his upcoming February 2026 performance. This time, the Puerto Rican star shows confidence despite Noem’s ICE threats. “I think everyone is happy, especially Fox News,” he said jokingly. “But really, I’m very excited about doing the Super Bowl, and I know the people who love my music are also happy.”
Then, in Spanish, he said, “Especially all the Latinos and Latinas around the world, and here, in the United States, all those who have worked to open doors. It’s more than an achievement for myself; it’s an achievement for all of us. It shows our footprint, our contributions to this country that no one will take away or erase.”
Noem has confirmed that the DHS will attend the 60th Super Bowl, commenting, “We’ll be all over the place, and I can. We’re going to enforce the law. I believe people should not be coming to the event unless they are law-abiding US citizens.”
Cuban American commentator Robby Starbuck accused NFL commissioner Roger Goodell of making the Super Bowl political. He argues with a barrage of insults, “Most of his songs aren’t even in English! No doubt Bad Bunny will push some way for a woke message. Are the NFL owners in on this idiocy, or are they that culturally disconnected from reality and how [Goodell uses the sport] to push left-wing social issues?”
The reggae artist also jokingly mentions that America has four months to learn Spanish if they don’t understand the language. U.S. Rep. Majorie Taylor Green attempted to be part of the Super Bowl conversation with the following X social media post. She voiced that establishing English as the language of the nation should be the law.
Why Does This Matter for Musicians
Bad Bunny has now identified a new issue in the entertainment industry. Using his responsibility as a music superstar, Ocasio raised awareness that ICE raids could invade any hosted concert at any time. Whether it could be for someone’s ethnicity or a visitor from another country, no one is willing to give up support for their favorite artist.
And the conflict is beginning to expand further. Recently, country artist Zach Bryan got criticized for his song ‘Bad News’ about ICE and MAGA. He received similar backlash from their supporters. The nation may face restricted creative freedom when it comes to songwriting if the Trump administration presses for further interference.
