As Bad Bunny prepares to headline the Super Bowl LX Halftime Show on Feb. 8, a political and cultural split has already taken shape around the announcement. Conservative nonprofit Turning Point USA has revealed plans to host and livestream a competing “All-American Halftime Show,” positioning it as a values-driven alternative for viewers who oppose the NFL’s choice.

When the NFL confirmed Bad Bunny—born in Puerto Rico and now a U.S. citizen—as the 2026 halftime performer, backlash followed almost immediately from right-wing commentators. Among the most vocal critics was former President Donald Trump, who questioned the decision in public remarks.

“I don’t know who he is. I don’t know why they’re doing it—it’s, like, crazy,” Trump said, according to Entertainment Weekly, adding that the league had delegated entertainment decisions to outside promoters. He later told the New York Post that he would not attend the event, calling the selection “a terrible choice” and claiming it would “sow hatred.”

Bad Bunny has not shied away from addressing political themes in his work or public appearances. At the 2026 Grammys, he made history as the first artist to win Album of the Year with a Spanish-language album, while also taking home awards for Best Música Urbana Album and Best Global Music Performance. During his acceptance speech, he made a pointed statement referencing immigration enforcement.

“Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say, ‘ICE out,’” he said. “We’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans.”

The artist has also directly criticized Trump in his music. In 2025, he released the song “Nuevayol,” which included a simulated Trump voice apologizing to immigrants and acknowledging their role in shaping the United States. The message reinforced Bad Bunny’s broader public stance on immigration and identity, themes that have resonated strongly with his global fanbase.

Bad Bunny’s performances are predominantly in Spanish, and he is expected to maintain that approach during the Super Bowl halftime show. During his hosting appearance on Saturday Night Live in October 2025, he addressed viewers in Spanish before adding, “If you didn’t understand what I just said, you have four months to learn.”

That same month, Turning Point USA announced it would air its own alternative halftime event, livestreamed concurrently with the NFL broadcast. Initially, the organization withheld details about performers, fueling speculation about how the event would position itself against the league’s official show.

This week, TPUSA—now led by Erika Kirk, following the death of founder Charlie Kirk—revealed its lineup. The alternative halftime show will feature Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, and Gabby Barrett.

Kid Rock, whose peak commercial success came in the early 2000s, has become a prominent conservative figure and a vocal Trump ally. Gilbert and Brice are established but mid-tier country artists, while Barrett—who finished third on season 16 of American Idol—achieved a crossover hit in 2020 with “I Hope.”

“We’re approaching this show like David and Goliath,” Kid Rock said in a statement reported by USA Today. “Competing with the pro football machine and a global pop superstar is almost impossible… or is it?”

He went on to contrast the two events more bluntly, referencing Bad Bunny’s Spanish-language performance and aesthetic. “We plan to play great songs for folks who love America,” he said. The remarks drew renewed attention to Kid Rock’s own catalog, which has long included explicit lyrics that some critics argue conflict with the “family-friendly” or “Christian values” framing of the alternative event.

The TPUSA lineup received praise from J.D. Vance, who wrote on X, “Fantastic lineup for the TPUSA halftime show, including the great Bob Ritchie AKA Kid Rock.”

Online reaction, however, has been mixed to negative. Many commenters mocked the idea of a competing halftime show, questioning both its cultural relevance and its messaging. One user wrote that organizing an alternative broadcast felt “so un-American” given that Bad Bunny himself is an American performer. Another joked that the lineup resembled “the same halftime playlist from 2008.”

Others raised concerns about generational appeal, suggesting the TPUSA event may struggle to attract younger viewers, particularly Gen Z. Several commenters also highlighted the irony of branding the show as “Christian” while headlining an artist known for profanity-heavy songs.

As Super Bowl LX approaches, the split response reflects broader cultural and political divisions surrounding entertainment, language, identity, and patriotism. Viewers will ultimately decide whether to watch the NFL’s official halftime show or tune into Turning Point USA’s alternative broadcast—but the debate itself has already become part of the spectacle.