President Donald Trump announced Saturday that he will not be attending next month's Super Bowl in Santa Clara, California. While the President was a prominent fixture at last year’s game in New Orleans, he cited the long travel distance and a "terrible" lineup of performers as reasons for his absence. "It’s just too far away," Trump told the New York Post, while noting his high popularity among the fans who attend the championship game.
The President saved his sharpest criticism for the NFL’s choice of halftime entertainment, which features radical liberal performers Bad Bunny and Green Day. Trump has been openly critical of the league's direction, particularly the selection of artists who have built their brands on attacking his administration. "I don’t know why they’re doing it. It’s crazy," the President remarked, calling the selection "absolutely ridiculous" and a move that only serves to "sow hatred."
Both Bad Bunny and Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong have long histories of far-left activism and public disdain for the MAGA movement. Bad Bunny recently claimed he avoided booking U.S. tour dates out of a "concern" that ICE agents would target his fans, a narrative often pushed by anti-border enforcement agitators. Meanwhile, Armstrong has spent years likening the President to historical dictators and even altered the lyrics of his band's hits to take direct swipes at "the MAGA agenda."
The choice of performers highlights a growing divide between the NFL's leadership and the millions of patriotic Americans who view the Super Bowl as a national tradition. South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem recently torched the league as "weak" for catering to these radical elements. She even suggested that ICE agents should make their presence known at the game, despite the fear-mongering coming from the halftime headliners.
The Super Bowl is set for February 8 at Levi’s Stadium, featuring a matchup between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks. For many fans, the President’s decision to skip the event reflects a broader exhaustion with the injection of left-wing politics into professional sports. Trump remains firm in his stance, noting that the NFL is making a "terrible choice" by platforming artists who are "anti-them."
While the league continues to prioritize "woke" performers, the President is focusing on his domestic agenda and the security of the nation. He reminded the media that he has always enjoyed a great relationship with the fans at the Super Bowl, but the combination of a West Coast trip and a "redneck agenda" rewrite was a bridge too far.