The day after the Seattle Seahawks secured their Super Bowl victory, discussions erupted regarding the halftime entertainment, specifically the performances by Bad Bunny and Kid Rock. While Bad Bunny was the official performer for the NFL at Levi”s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, an alternative show was organized by Turning Point USA.
The morning following the Super Bowl, attention turned to which performance captured more viewers. Although Nielsen ratings will not be released until Tuesday, Bad Bunny, a U.S. citizen from Puerto Rico, is expected to have drawn significant numbers, as Super Bowl halftime shows typically attract over 100 million viewers. The spokesperson for Turning Point USA, Andrew Kolvet, claimed that at one moment, approximately 10 million viewers were watching Kid Rock”s performance across various social media platforms. However, exact figures were not disclosed, and it was reported that about 5 million were watching live on YouTube.
This competition for viewership during one of America”s most-watched events has become emblematic of the current political climate, especially as Turning Point organized their show with support from former President Donald Trump to protest the NFL”s selection of Bad Bunny as the headliner. The backdrop of these performances is marked by significant polarization within the U.S., particularly between supporters of Trump”s immigration policies and those opposing strict immigration enforcement.
In recent weeks, tensions have escalated, highlighted by the deaths of two white American citizens at the hands of federal agents in Minneapolis, a city previously in the spotlight due to protests following George Floyd”s murder. Bad Bunny has been a vocal critic of ICE, although he did not reference the agency during his performance. Conversely, Kid Rock is recognized as a prominent celebrity supporter of Trump.
The “All American Halftime Show,” featuring Kid Rock, included tributes to the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was killed last year on a college campus in Utah. This alternative program lasted about 30 minutes and featured performances from country artists Brantley Gilbert, Gabby Barrett, and Lee Brice. Several performers declared that their show represented “the real America,” with Kolvet claiming the viewership represented a “massive” achievement. “People are paying attention,” he stated.
The TPUSA show was broadcast across multiple right-leaning networks, including OAN News and Trinity Broadcasting Network. While Kolvet”s estimated 10 million viewers for Kid Rock”s performance pales in comparison to past Super Bowl viewership records, such as Kendrick Lamar”s 133.5 million viewers in 2025, Bad Bunny”s show brought a distinct Puerto Rican cultural flair to the stadium. His performance emphasized themes of unity, featuring a screen that proclaimed, “The only thing more powerful than hate is love,” and highlighted issues facing Puerto Rico, including power outages and struggles for sovereignty.
Trump, who opted not to attend the Super Bowl, publicly criticized Bad Bunny”s performance on Truth Social, calling it “one of the worst, EVER.” He described it as nonsensical and an insult to the greatness of America, asserting it fails to reflect the nation”s standards of success, creativity, or excellence.
