“Choice is carefully thought out”
NFL boss counters criticism from US President Donald Trump
Updated 10/23/2025 – 10:41 amReading time: 1 min.
US President Donald Trump dislikes the choice of performer for the Super Bowl halftime show. The NFL boss is unimpressed.
The planned Super Bowl halftime show is already triggering political discussions in advance. After US President Donald Trump sharply criticized the decision for the musician Bad Bunny, NFL boss Roger Goodell now supported the league’s plans.
“Bad Bunny is one of the most popular entertainers in the world,” Goodell said at the NFL’s fall reception when asked about the Republican’s criticism. “We want to get artists like that. The choice is carefully thought out.” The official also referred to past performances – there, too, various artists had provoked “backlash or criticism” in advance.
Trump, who regularly clashes with the NFL, publicly announced that he had “never” heard of Bad Bunny. “I don’t know who that is,” said the US President. “I don’t know why the NFL is doing this. This is crazy.” Statements for which Trump received support from the right-wing conservative camp.
Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, had already sparked discussions in the past. During his world tour, he announced that he would not give concerts in the USA – out of fear of immigration raids. This drew criticism from the right.