Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show Sunday night delivered exactly what many expected from the global superstar: spectacle, controversy, and a political undercurrent that immediately set social media and cable news on fire.
The Grammy Award-winning artist, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, briefly spoke English during his performance, shouting “God bless America,” a phrase long associated with U.S. patriotism and national unity. But what followed turned that moment into a cultural flashpoint. Rather than centering the United States alone, Bad Bunny proceeded to name countries across North, Central, and South America, including Chile, Argentina, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Mexico, Canada, and the U.S., before ending the show by spiking a football emblazoned with the message, “Together, we are America.”
The moment was instantly interpreted as a deliberate reframing of what “America” means. Supporters applauded it as a message of inclusion and unity across the Western Hemisphere. Critics saw it as a political statement that blurred national identity on the biggest stage in American sports.
Reaction poured in from all sides. Texas State Rep. Jeff Leach slammed the performance on X, arguing that American citizenship should come with a clear embrace of U.S. symbols. “This is America. Not the United Nations,” Leach wrote, questioning the NFL’s decision-making and criticizing the display of multiple national flags during the show.
Others framed the moment through an ideological lens. One X user noted that Bad Bunny’s phrasing echoed a long-standing argument from the Latin American left, which claims the United States arrogantly appropriated the name of two continents. Progressive activists, including the Headquarters X account formerly known as KamalaHQ, praised the performance as a loving and inclusive message aimed at redefining American identity.
Bad Bunny closing out his Super Bowl Halftime performance
“God Bless America: Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Perú, Ecuador, Brasil, Colombia, […] United States, Canadá, and my motherland, mi barrio, Puerto Rico, seguimo aquí.” pic.twitter.com/cThVRa7u6F
— Modern Notoriety (@ModernNotoriety) February 9, 2026
Media outlets quickly weighed in. Mashable described the sequence as a pointed statement of unity, emphasizing that Bad Bunny intentionally referenced the Americas as a whole rather than the United States alone. Forbes contributor Hannah Abraham argued that while “God Bless America” has traditionally been a staple of American sporting events, Bad Bunny’s approach “reimagined” what the phrase could represent, noting the contrast between his Spanish-language performance and the brief English declaration.
The controversy did not emerge in a vacuum. Bad Bunny has increasingly inserted himself into U.S. political debates. Months earlier, he sparked backlash after refusing to stand during “God Bless America” at a New York Yankees game. At the 2026 Grammy Awards, he delivered remarks condemning ICE and declaring, “We are humans, and we are Americans,” a phrase that later appeared on the Super Bowl jumbotron. He also declined to schedule U.S. tour dates for his 2025–26 run, citing concerns over potential immigration raids at his shows.
The NFL having a Super Bowl Halftime Show where their performer sings ENTIRELY in Spanish & waves other nation’s flags, is
% a political statement.
Bad Bunny will go down as the worst halftime show in the history of the league.
America deserved better for its 250th birthday. pic.twitter.com/Glu9BLT5Tp
— Jon Root (@JonnyRoot_) February 9, 2026
% a political statement.President Donald Trump weighed in sharply, calling the halftime performance “one of the worst ever,” echoing criticism from conservative commentators who viewed the show as a passive-aggressive rebuke of American patriotism.
Media Research Center analyst Jorge Bonilla summed up that sentiment in a Fox News op-ed, arguing that Bad Bunny’s “God Bless America” was not aimed at the United States at all, but at “América” as a broader political concept. He described the finale as confusing, stilted, and subtly anti-American.
More than a century after Irving Berlin wrote “God Bless America” as a patriotic prayer during World War I, Bad Bunny’s reinterpretation has reignited debate over national identity, culture, and politics. Whether hailed as inclusive or condemned as divisive, the performance ensured that the Super Bowl halftime show would be remembered long after the final whistle.
The post Bad Bunny Closes NFL Halftime Show With ‘God Bless America’ Then Proceeds To List Hispanic Countries With Their Flags Flying appeared first on Red Right Patriot.
