Donald Trump fired off fresh gripes about the NFL during a Newsmax interview, slamming the league’s choice of Bad Bunny as the 2026 Super Bowl halftime headliner. He framed it as yet another example of excess and political posturing, the same themes he’s pushed for years when it comes to football.
Republicans have declared their break from the NFL, yet each season they are still there, watching, griping, and posting online. Trump’s latest rant has landed in familiar territory, with NFL fans mostly rolling their eyes at what feels like a rerun of an old script.
Trump’s Criticism of Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Spot Isn’t Surprising
This all started when Newsmax host Greg Kelly introduced the segment, calling Bad Bunny “the bad bunny rabbit or whatever his name” and pointing to the artist’s past criticism of ICE and Trump. Kelly floated the idea of “boycotting the NFL,” saying Bad Bunny wasn’t “a unifying entertainer” and that “a lot of folks don’t even know who he is.”
Trump didn’t hold back. “I never heard of him. I don’t know who he is. I don’t know why they’re doing it. It’s like crazy,” he said, blaming “some promoter that they hired to pick up entertainment” and calling the decision “absolutely ridiculous.” The exchange fit perfectly into his familiar playbook: frame the NFL as chasing celebrity endorsements, pushing woke messaging, and fueling a so‑called “culture war.” To Trump, these choices push away traditional fans and give him more ammo to fire at the league.
For the NFL, the blowback is nothing new. Some fans may feel alienated when the halftime stage takes a political edge, and advertisers might take notice too. But the league hasn’t changed course. It keeps rolling out big-name performers and over-the-top shows because the ratings follow, and that’s a strategy the NFL isn’t about to drop just because Trump calls it out again.
For Some Reason, Trump Still Can’t Get Over The New Kickoff Rule
It’s not just the halftime show; Trump also keeps hammering away at the NFL’s new kickoff rule. The league has altered formations and return mechanics to limit high‑speed collisions, cutting down on returns. Safety advocates see progress, while traditional fans say it drains the game’s energy. Trump calls it another example of football losing its physical edge and spectacle.
That’s where the online reaction blended right in. One fan joked, “That sudden pivot to the kickoff rule…… classic Trump move, never misses a segue.” Another said, “Having these people boycott the NFL like 10 times already? I thought Republicans didn’t watch football anymore.”
One user post captured the bigger picture:
The Super Bowl does double the ratings of presidential debates. They’ve had 50+ million people for a regular season game. They are absolutely untouchable. Trump could call for a nationwide boycott tomorrow and their ratings would still be so high It would be embarrassing.
All they could do is try to paint a slight dip that would still have them by wide margin, the most popular thing in all of American culture.
You don’t go against the NFL in a popularity war and win. More people may watch the Super Bowl than even vote in a presidential election for both sides combined.
Trump’s complaints keep the culture war talk alive, but they don’t change the scoreboard. The NFL remains the biggest show in America, and come Super Bowl Sunday, the country will be watching.
Published: Oct 7, 2025 01:00 pm