Why do you think Bad Bunny is better received by US citizens than the current President of the United States?
More Americans see the Puerto Rican reggaeton star Bad Bunny as a better representative of their country than the incumbent President Donald Trump – according to the results of a current opinion poll.
Yahoo! and YouGov surveyed more than 1,700 adults in the days following Bad Bunny’s appearance at the Super Bowl halftime show. The result: 42 percent of respondents said Bad Bunny better represented the United States, while only 39 percent voted for Trump. 20 percent were undecided.
The sample also included a slightly higher proportion of Republicans and conservatives than Democrats and liberals.
Significant differences in different population groups
The survey reveals significant differences along ethnic lines. Bad Bunny’s lead is particularly clear among the African-American population: 61 percent see him as the better representative, while Trump only has nine percent here. Among Hispanic Americans, the musician is also well ahead of the president with 32 percent at 46 percent.
Only among the white population does the picture change: Here Trump has 48 percent approval, while Bad Bunny achieved 37 percent.
Positive response to Spanish-language Super Bowl performance
The halftime show itself received an overwhelmingly positive response. Of those surveyed, 47 percent said they tracked performance. Among these viewers, 30 percent said they were positive about the show, while only eight percent said they disliked it. The decision to perform exclusively in Spanish was supported by 31 percent of Americans – only eleven percent opposed it.
A side effect: After the show, travel searches to Puerto Rico saw a significant increase.
Bad Bunny’s historic Super Bowl appearance and its significance
Bad Bunny’s performance at the Super Bowl marked a turning point in the history of the prestigious halftime show. As one of the first Latin American artists to present the entire show in Spanish, the Puerto Rican megastar made a clear statement for linguistic and cultural diversity. His performance not only honored his Caribbean roots, but also represented the growing Hispanic population in the United States, which now makes up almost 20 percent of the total population.
The symbolic meaning of this moment goes far beyond musical aspects. At a time of political polarization and debates about immigration and national identity, Bad Bunny’s performance became a cultural event with socio-political relevance.
Trump’s reaction and the failed counter-event with Kid Rock
The relationship between Donald Trump and Bad Bunny has been strained for a long time. The president had made critical comments about the artist in the past and criticized his political commitment to Puerto Rico and his support for democratic candidates. After the Super Bowl performance, the rhetoric intensified, with Trump calling Bad Bunny’s choice as a halftime performer “un-American” in social media posts.
In response, Trump’s team organized a counter-event with country rock musician Kid Rock, who is known as a long-time Trump supporter. The event, scheduled for the same evening, was intended to showcase “real American music” and serve as a conservative alternative to the Super Bowl. However, the event turned into a PR disaster: the number of spectators fell far short of expectations, and even in conservative media the event was criticized as a desperate attempt to stage a culture war.
To understand: While the Super Bowl with Bad Bunny reached over 100 million viewers, the Trump Kid Rock Show was only able to mobilize a fraction of that.
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The Super Bowl as a cultural-political stage: history and outlook
The Super Bowl halftime show has become one of the most influential moments in American pop culture over the decades. From Michael Jackson’s performance in 1993 to Beyoncé’s politically charged performance in 2016 to Shakira and Jennifer Lopez’s Latin American celebration in 2020, the show always reflects the social zeitgeist.
There is already speculation about possible performers for 2027. Names like Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus are at the top of wish lists. International stars like Rosalía and Burna Boy could also reflect the increasing globalization of the show. The NFL has placed increased emphasis on representing diverse genres and cultural backgrounds in recent years, a trend that is expected to continue.
