Turning Point USA has released its performance plan for its alternative Super Bowl halftime show – and it has fallen flat with a lot of people.
The show was created to give viewers an alternative to Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl 60 event on Sunday, (February 8).
It’s being organized by the late Charlie Kirk’s political establishment, Turning Point USA, currently headed by is widow, Erika who has taken over position as its CEO.
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As announced on its website, the All American Halftime Show will include performances from the likes of Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice and Gabby Barrett – but people haven’t taken the news well.
On social media, people have aired their thoughts on the line-up, having previously begged for long-time conservative country singer, Jason Aldean, to participate.
Unfortunately for them, he’s not been pegged as a performer.
“Anyone else disappointed? Honestly your marketing team could have did a better job on this flyer and advertising this event,” one person wrote on X.
A second penned: “I’ll be watching but I am a little disappointed in this lineup. Going to struggle getting Gen Z to care.”
“I knew it would be Kid Rock and 3 people I’ve never heard of,” another wrote, as someone else complained: “Y’all remember that TPUSA Halftime show they announced and everyone was like ‘Get Creed’ and ‘I hope they don’t get someone like Kid Rock’. They got Kid Rock….”
However, some were pretty stoked at the prospect of seeing the singers on stage.
One person wrote: “This is going to be massive! Is everyone tuning in?”
Another said: “Can’t wait to see Kid Rock & the crew rock the halftime stage! Who’s your top pick?”
As you can expect from this particular crown, there has been some criticism about Bad Bunny potentially performing in Spanish, as he usually does, to an American crowd.
“I’ve never heard of him,” Donald Trump chimed in during an interview with Newsmax in October 2025. “I don’t know who he is. I don’t know why they’re doing it. It’s, like, crazy.”
Bad Bunny had a massive historic win at the 2026 Grammys, having took home the Album of the Year on February 1, and has been vocal about sticking to his roots when singing.
During his Saturday Night Live hosting opportunity in October 2025, he hilariously told the audience that they had ‘four months to learn’ Spanish in preparation for his show.
TPUSA’s show will livestream on Turning Point USA’s official social media channels, and also on outlets like The Daily Wire and Trinity Broadcasting Network.
Donald Trump apparently isn’t impressed with the choice for the halftime show at next year’s Super Bowl.
The highly coveted performance has seen dozens of the world’s most famous faces take to the stage during the annual championship game of the NFL, from Lady Gaga and Beyonce, to Rihanna and Kendrick Lamar and many, many more.
Millions tune in every year to watch the game and to soak up the entertainment, making it one of the most widely watched sporting events worldwide.
While anticipation has been building over who will appear at the show at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, in February next year, the NFL has since confirmed Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny has been booked for the major event.
However, the choice has rustled some feathers in the White House, most notably President Donald Trump, who deemed the choice ‘crazy’.
Speaking to Newsmax, Trump stated he was unfamiliar with the 31-year-old dubbed by some as the ‘King of Latin Trap’, despite the musician’s open dislike for Trump’s policies, particularly his aggressive immigration crackdown.
« 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, » the president said.
Trump said he thought NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was blaming the decision ‘on some promoter they hired,’ adding: « I think it’s absolutely ridiculous. »
The rapper, who shot to fame for his feature on Cardi B’s hit single ‘I Like It’, was born Benito Antonio Martínez in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, and has earned his stripes as one of the best Latin performers of all time.
Hosting Saturday Night Live on October 4, Bad Bunny addressed his critics with a tongue-in-cheek jibe in his opening monologue, stating ‘everyone is happy about it – even Fox News’.
An obviously edited clip then played, which mashed together comments from anchors so the full sentence went: « Bad Bunny is my favorite musician and he should be the next president. »
The rapper then thanked Latinos and Latinas of the world and the US, adding: « Our footprints and our contribution in this country, no one will ever be able to take that away or erase it. »
His big Super Bowl debut comes as the Happy Gilmore 2 actor previously ruled out touring the US due to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
« There were many reasons why I didn’t show up in the US, and none of them were out of hate – I’ve performed there many times, » he said in an interview with Variety, adding that all of his shows have been ‘magnificent’ on US soil.
However, he said American citizens ‘could come’ to Puerto Rico to see his shows, whereas there would be ‘the issue’ of ‘f**king ICE’ outside his concerts in the states.
« It’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about, » he added.
Confirming his fears, Trump advisor Corey Lewandowski said ICE agents would be stationed at the big game.
« There is nowhere you can provide safe haven to people who are in this country illegally. Not the Super Bowl and no where else. We will find and deport you, » he said.
« I don’t care if it’s a concert for Johnny Smith or Bad Bunny or anybody else. We’re going to do enforcement everywhere. »
Lewandowski also slammed the decision for the rapper to perform, stating: « It’s so shameful they picked someone who seems to hate America. »
Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny has admitted to being so ‘concerned’ about ICE raids that he won’t include the US on his upcoming tour, but has now made one big exception.
The 31-year-old has been confirmed to headline next year’s Super Bowl halftime show on February 8 2026 at the Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Previous headliners have included Kendrick Lamar, Usher, Rihanna and The Weeknd. Now, Bad Bunny – real name Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio – is among those gracing one of the most-watched sporting events in the world.
Back in 2022, he became the first artist to have an all-Spanish album – Un Verano Sin Ti – hit number one on the US Billboard chart.
He’s also a three-time Grammy winner and ranked as the third most-streamed artist globally in 2024.
Music mogul Jay-Z, whose company Roc Nation produces the iconic half-time show, said what Bad Bunny has ‘done and continues to do for Puerto Rico is truly inspiring,’ adding: « We are honoured to have him on the world’s biggest stage. »
Despite his international success, Bad Bunny has skipped the US on his upcoming, 57-date Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour, which kicks off on November 21, 2025 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
He visits Latin America, then Asia and Oceania, before a final stint across Europe with the tour concluded in Brussels, Belgium at the King Baudouin Stadium on July 22, 2026.
But there are no US tour dates in his jam-packed schedule.
Bad Bunny previously told i-D magazine that he feared that ICE officers would raid the stadiums he was performing at.
« There were many reasons why I didn’t show up in the US, and none of them were out of hate – I’ve performed there many times, » he explained.
« People from the US could come here to see the show. Latinos and Puerto Ricans of the United States could also travel here, or to any part of the world.
« But there was the issue of – that, like, f**king ICE could be outside [my concert venue]. And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about. »
And it wasn’t the first time he spoke out about ICE operations, which have ramped up under president Donald Trump.
Back in June, the singer took to Instagram to criticize agents in Puerto Rico for not ‘leaving these people working here alone’.
And on Tuesday (September 23), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that two million ‘illegal aliens’ have been ‘removed or have self-deported’ since Trump’s inauguration on January 20.
Among them, more than 400,000 have been deported and 1.6 million have ‘self-deported,’ as per the DHS.
Almost 600,000 ‘illegal aliens’ are set to have been deported by the end of Trump’s first year back in office, which, if realized, would be the highest annual deportation total in recent US history.
ICE deported 271,484 people in the fiscal year ending September 30; nearly double the prior year.
It was the agency’s highest tally since 2014, when 315,943 people were removed.
Several earthquakes shook the San Francisco Bay Area on Monday morning (February 2) as the county expects to welcome 1.3 million Super Bowl fans this week.
The strongest was a 4.2-magnitude quake near San Ramon just after 7am, following a 3.8 quake about half an hour earlier, and another 3.8 quake at 7.30am, according to the US Geological Survey.
In total, as many as 20 small quakes were recorded across the region.
Some people felt the shaking in downtown San Francisco, where Sunday’s Super Bowl activities will get underway, but there are no reports of major damage or serious injuries.
The Bay Area is gearing up for a huge Super Bowl week, with more than 1.3 million fans expected to take part in festivities and related events around the region.
Previously, San Francisco International Airport director Mike Nakornkhet told ABC 7 News: « We’re forecasting 1.3 million travelers from February 1 through 10, so we expect big days around the big game to be busy like holidays. »
The New England Patriots will take on the Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday (February 8).
But the Moscone Center is also the star of the show, with build-up taking place for the huge game there throughout the week.
Grammy-winning Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny will be heading up the prestigious halftime show, while American rock band Green Day will also be making an appearance.
Though notably absent from Sunday’s game will be President Donald Trump, who is refusing to attend this year.
He made his thoughts on the halftime show acts clear, telling the New York Post he is ‘anti-them,’ adding: « I think it’s a terrible choice. All it does is sow hatred. Terrible. »
He also slammed the location, adding: “It’s just too far away. I would. I’ve [gotten] great hands [at] the Super Bowl. They like me.
“I would go if, you know, it was a little bit shorter.”
Bad Bunny was among the artists who slammed ICE at the Grammys on Sunday night amid intensified raids under Trump.
While collecting his award for Best Música Urbana Album, Bad Bunny said: “Before I say thanks to God, I’m gonna say ‘ICE OUT’. We’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens, we’re Americans.
“Also I wanna say to the people; I know it’s tough not to hate on these – and I was thinking sometimes we get contaminos, I don’t know how to say that in English.
« The hate gets more powerful, with more hate, the only thing more powerful than hate is love.
« So please, we need be different, if we fight we have to do it with love; if we don’t hate them, we love our people we love our family and that’s the way to do it, don’t forget that.”
Following the latest shooting in Minneapolis, the Department of Homeland Security has issued a statement about their presence at the upcoming Super Bowl.
Anti-ICE protests and sentiments have erupted following the shooting of Alex Pretti over the weekend, which came just weeks after mother-of-three Renee Good was also fatally shot by a federal agent.
Videos have shown how the 37-year-old ICU nurse was shot and killed after a brief interaction with federal immigration agents.
Social media videos from multiple angles show Pretti attempting to help a woman up after she had been pushed to the floor by agents, before he was tackled to the ground by multiple agents and pepper sprayed.
He was then fatally shot while still on the ground.
Pretti’s parents have slammed Donald Trump’s administration for their version of events, claiming they are ‘sickening lies’ while maintaining their son was clearly holding and brandishing his cell phone, rather than his legally owned firearm.
The death of both American citizens has caused an outrage with many claiming that ICE overreacted in both situations.
This has led to concerns that there could be protests or tension between ICE and federal agents if they are out in force at Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California, on Feb. 8
ICE’s message to Super Bowl fans
The Department of Homeland Security’s assistant secretary, Tricia McLaughlin, has issued a statement to TMZ about their plans to ensure safety at the sporting event.
She said: “The Department of Homeland Security is committed to working with our local and federal partners to ensure the Super Bowl is safe for everyone involved, as we do with every major sporting event, including the World Cup.
“Our mission remains unchanged. Those who are here legally and are not breaking other laws have nothing to fear.
“We will not disclose future operations or discuss personnel. Super Bowl security will entail a whole of government response conducted in-line with the U.S. Constitution.”
Last year, DHS adviser Corey Lewandowski made it clear that ICE would be operating at the Super Bowl on a ‘directive from the president’.
Speaking on The Benny Show podcast, Lewandowski said: “There is nowhere you can provide safe haven to people who are in this country illegally.
“Not the Super Bowl and nowhere else. We will find and deport you. That is a very real situation. »
