NFL Commissioner has risked being alienated from President Trump when he doubled down on Bad Bunny as the performer for the Super Bowl Halftime Show.

NFL commissioner won’t change halftime performer

Jay-Z and Roc Nation decided to go with the Puerto Rican rapper who is a wildly popular global superstar. But it’s a choice that Trump openly despises.

“It’s carefully thought through,” Goodell said on Wednesday, Oct. 22, according to NBC News. “I’m not sure we’ve ever selected an artist where we didn’t have some blowback or criticism.

Goodell seeks to further the NFL’s global appeal

Goodell, who has staged multiple football games in South America, Germany, London and Spain in recent years, probably believes that Bad Bunny’s immense popularity worldwide will further the NFL’s goals to expand the game across the globe.

“He’s one of the leading and most popular entertainers in the world,” Goodell said. “That’s what we try to achieve. It’s an important stage for us. It’s an important element to the entertainment value.”

President Trump despises the pick

Trump, however, hates the NFL’s decision and made it known to conservative news network Newsmax said he had “never heard of” Bad Bunny.

“I don’t know who he is,” Trump said. “I don’t know why they’re doing it. It’s, like, crazy. And then they blame it on some promoter they hired to pick up entertainment. I think it’s absolutely ridiculous.”

Moreover, Trump automatically detest anyone who has spoke up against him. The 31-year-old Bad Bunny, who was born in Puerto Rico as Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has been vocal in his opposition to Trump and his policies. He recently completed a 31-city world tour but avoided stops in the U.S. mainline, citing concerns about the prospects of ICE agents detaining Latinos at his concerts.

The Super Bowl is likely to have muliple performers

Bad Bunny mostly performs in Spanish and is expected to do so at the Super Bowl.

“We’re confident it’s going to be a great show,” Goodell said. He added that he and Jay-Z may add talent to perform at halftime with Bad Bunny. Goodell cited recent examples, as Kendrick Lamar’s show in February 2025 included performances by singer SZA and appearances by Serena Williams and Samuel L. Jackson. Usher’s 2024 set featured multiplatinum rapper Ludacris and Grammy-winning singer Alicia Keys.

“(Bad Bunny) understands the platform that he’s on, and I think it’s going to be exciting and a united moment,” Goodell said.