Stephen A. Smith Responds to Donald Trump’s Bad Bunny Super Bowl Halftime Show Critique
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
The fallout from Super Bowl 60 extended well beyond the final whistle, as the halftime show headlined by Bad Bunny sparked cultural and political debate. Former U.S. President Donald Trump publicly criticized the performance, prompting a high-profile response from ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith.
President Trump criticized the entire halftime show and wrote on his Truth platform, “The Super Bowl Halftime Show is absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER! It makes no sense, in an affront to the Greatness of America, and doesn’t represent our standards of Success, Creativity, or Excellence.”
He continued, “Nobody understands a word this guy is saying, and the dancing is disgusting, especially for young children that are watching from throughout the U.S.A., and all over the World. This ‘Show’ is just a ‘slap in the face’ to our Country, which is setting new standards and records every single day — including the Best Stock Market and 401(k)s in history!”
Trump says the halftime show stunk and the NFL needs to replace its new kickoff rule too. pic.twitter.com/ZBPgWVewcQ
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) February 9, 2026
“There is nothing inspirational about this mess of a Halftime Show and watch, it will get great reviews from the Fake News Media, because they haven’t got a clue of what is going on in the REAL WORLD — And, by the way, the NFL should immediately replace its ridiculous new Kickoff Rule,” President Trump concluded.
Soon after Donald Trump’s comments, many sports personalities began sharing their opinions on the controversial Bad Bunny Super Bowl halftime show performance. One such individual was Stephen A. Smith, who had been pretty active even before Super Bowl 60.
Stephen A. Smith’s Response Explained
Stephen A. Smith addressed Trump’s critique during his ESPN appearances and on social media, offering a more nuanced perspective.
“There are millions upon millions of Americans who would have wanted to hear something in English other than Lady Gaga. That is true,” Smith said. “And me personally, when I see J-Lo out there, when I see Shakira out there, when I see a few people celebrating their Hispanic heritage, no doubt. But it also would have been nice for some of the songs in English. That’s all.“
Wow: Stephen A. Smith agrees with President Trump for calling out Bad Bunny’s all-Spanish halftime show.
“There’s millions of Americans who would have wanted to hear something in English. Personally… it also would have been nice if some of the songs were in English.”
😳😳😳 pic.twitter.com/ZRmaJRUPOh
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) February 10, 2026
Why Bad Bunny Was Chosen as the Halftime Headliner
From an NFL standpoint, Bad Bunny was a strategic choice:
- He is one of the most-streamed artists globally
- He commands a massive appeal among younger and international viewers
- His presence aligns with the league’s push to expand its global footprint
Conclusion
Stephen A. Smith’s response to Donald Trump’s criticism of Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl 60 halftime show underscored a familiar reality: the Super Bowl is no longer just a football game, but a global cultural event.
