House Speaker Johnson Calls Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Booking ‘a Terrible Decision,’ Says It Should’ve Been Someone With ‘a Broader Audience’ — Like Lee Greenwood

House Speaker Mike Johnson has denounced the NFL's selection of Bad Bunny to perform at the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show, describing the move as "a terrible decision." His remarks align with criticism previously issued by former President Donald J. Trump. Johnson suggested that country singer Lee Greenwood—best known for his 1984 patriotic anthem "God Bless the U.S.A."—would have resonated more effectively with what he called a "broader audience."

When questioned by reporters, including Pablo Manríquez of Migrant Insider, Johnson conceded he was unfamiliar with the Puerto Rican superstar, despite Bad Bunny’s recent high-profile hosting of "Saturday Night Live." Nevertheless, the Speaker maintained his disapproval, stating, "I didn’t even know who Bad Bunny was. But it sounds like a terrible decision, in my view, from what I’m hearing." He voiced concern over the Super Bowl’s vast viewership, which includes many impressionable young people, and argued that figures like Greenwood offer more appropriate role models.

Johnson did not acknowledge that some conservative objections to Bad Bunny are rooted in his choice to perform in Spanish. The artist, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has also drawn political backlash for announcing he would not tour the continental United States following a record-breaking residency in his native Puerto Rico. He cited fears that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) could target his fans at concerts—a concern that gained credibility when Trump administration officials confirmed plans to deploy a significant number of ICE agents at the Super Bowl specifically in response to his booking.

Former President Trump echoed Johnson’s stance in a recent interview, despite admitting he too knew little about the performer. After a NewsMax host referred to Bad Bunny as "the Bad Bunny Rabbit, or whatever his name is," Trump called the NFL’s choice "crazy" and "absolutely ridiculous." Other former administration figures appeared more informed. Adviser Corey Lewandowski and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem both indicated intentions to send ICE personnel to the event to detain undocumented migrants. Noem added pointed disapproval of the NFL’s decision, underscoring a coordinated political opposition to the artist.

Despite the political controversy, Bad Bunny’s commercial success is undeniable. The artist has placed more than 100 songs on the Billboard Hot 100, including the chart-topping single "I Like It." Each of his last four studio albums has debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. His most recent release, "Debí Tirar Más Fotos," entered the chart at number two with 122,000 equivalent album units in January, then climbed to the top spot the following week with 203,500 units. This sustained chart dominance underscores his massive global following and cultural relevance, which clearly extend far beyond the current political debate.