At the Grammys, the Puerto Rican superstar didn’t shy away from politics, directly calling out U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement with “ICE OUT” during her acceptance speech for the Música Urbana album. Now, as he prepares for one of the most-watched performances in the world, the question remains: Will Bad Bunny bring the same unapologetic message to the Super Bowl?
Bad Bunny’s history of speaking out against ICE
If Benito faces ICE in the Super Bowl, it won’t be the first time. In an interview with i-D magazine in September 2025, he said that concerns over potential ICE raids and the safety of his Latino and Puerto Rican fans were a major reason why he excluded the United States from his 2025–2026 DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS World Tour.
Bad Bunny criticizes ICE during Grammy speech
He said, “People from the United States can come here to see the show. Latinos and Puerto Ricans from the United States can also travel here or from any part of the world.” “But the issue was that…ICE could happen outside of (my concert venue). And that’s something we were talking about and were very concerned about.”
Instead, the artist staged a historic 31-date residency in Puerto Rico – one that was intentionally designed to prioritize local fans, keep ticket prices accessible, and invest more than $400 million into the island’s economy. This decision underlined not only his connection to the island, but also his ongoing concern for the communities most affected by immigration enforcement.
That awareness came to the fore again during the Grammys broadcast, when host Trevor Noah joked, “If things keep getting worse in America, can I come live with you in Puerto Rico?” Bad Bunny gently corrects him: “Puerto Rico is part of the US.” The moment came lightly, but its implications were a reminder of Puerto Rico’s complex political situation and the way Latinx communities are often treated as both central and peripheral within American life.
His criticism of ICE has been consistent. Last June, Bad Bunny shared a video on his Instagram Story condemning federal agents operating in Puerto Rico, and urging them to stop harassing people who were just trying to work. With ICE operations intensifying under the Trump administration, his past comments suggest that this activism is not a fleeting statement, but an important link in his career.
Mashable Trend Report
And as a Puerto Rican artist whose music openly celebrates the island, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Super Bowl stage becomes another place where he chooses to hear that message.
Has Bad Bunny ever criticized President Trump?
While Bad Bunny has rarely directly named Donald Trump, his criticism of the former president and his administration’s policies has been explicit. In 2024, the artist endorsed Kamala Harris for US President, citing disappointment with the Trump administration’s handling of Hurricane Maria and its devastating impact on Puerto Rico. He voiced public support in the wake of comedian Tony Hinchcliffe’s racist comments about Puerto Rico at a Trump rally at Madison Square Garden, where the island was referred to as a “floating island of garbage.”
His commentary has also come to light through his music. Last Fourth of July, Bad Bunny released the music video for “NUEVAYoL”, a salsa tribute to the Puerto Rican diaspora in New York.
The visual shows the singer sitting atop the Statue of Liberty, wearing a Puerto Rican flag like a bandana on her forehead. In the final moments, a Trump-like voice plays over a radio broadcast, issuing an imaginary apology to immigrants. “This country is nothing without immigrants,” the voice says, naming Mexicans, Dominicans, Puerto Ricans, Colombians, Venezuelans and Cubans in an apparent criticism of Trump-era immigration rhetoric.
Tension grew further after the NFL announced Bad Bunny as the Super Bowl LX halftime performer. US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem publicly criticized the decision, saying that ICE agents would be “everywhere” at the Super Bowl and suggesting that the event should be reserved for “law-abiding Americans who love this country.”
The following night, Bad Bunny addressed the backlash during his Saturday night Live Monologue. Speaking first in English, then in Spanish, he described the moment as a collective victory for Latino communities in the United States, emphasizing their labor and cultural impact. “Our footprint and our contributions to this country, no one will ever be able to take away or erase that,” he said. He concluded with a pointing gesture in English: “And if you don’t understand what I just said, you have four months to learn.”
Trump himself responded dismissively when asked about Bad Bunny in October, telling Newsmax that he had “never heard of him” and questioning why the NFL chose him as its halftime performer. Just last month he told New York Post He will not be attending Super Bowl LX, citing Bad Bunny and opening act Green Day as the reason. “I’m opposed to them,” Trump said, “I think it’s a terrible choice. All it does is spread hatred. Terrible.”
We’ll have to wait until Super Bowl Sunday to see if Benito responds.
So, will Bad Bunny mention ICE or Trump at the Super Bowl?
Whether or not Bad Bunny directly addresses politics at Super Bowl LX, the act of bringing Puerto Rican culture and its history to the world’s biggest stage is a statement in itself. For Bad Bunny, music and identity have always been inseparable, and this halftime show will definitely be no exception.
<a href