U.S. President Donald Trump said that he won't be attending this year's Super Bowl on Feb. 8 in California. He told the New York Post that the game is "just too far away" while voicing his opinions about performers Bad Bunny, who will lead the halftime festivities, and Green Day, who are scheduled to kick off the big game with an opening ceremony."I'm anti-them. I think it's a terrible choice. All it does is sow hatred. Terrible," Trump said.
Trump, 79, said he might have attended the 60th Super Bowl, being played at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., if the distance was closer."It's just too far away. I would. I've [gotten] great hands [at] the Super Bowl. They like me," Trump said. "I would go if, you know, it was a little bit shorter." Story continues below advertisement Trump made history last year by being the first sitting president to attend the Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles.
Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny previously explained that part of the reason he did a Puerto Rico residency and didn't tour in the U.S. last year was because "f-ing ICE could be outside (my concert). And it's something that we were talking about and very concerned about." More on Entertainment More videos Whatever happened to the blockbuster movie soundtrack? Major filmmaking in Calgary continues to boom while Edmonton's indie scene grows 'Heated Rivalry' stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie to be torchbearers for Winter Olympics James Cameron says he moved from U.S. to New Zealand for 'sanity' KPop Demon Hunters songs slay Billboard Hot 100 chart 12 vendors face off during annual King of Kovbasa Ghost's Tobias Forge talks Skeletá, long-term goals for band, reveals if a new EP is coming Singleness: Regina's first interactive film "There were many reasons why I didn't show up in the U.S., and none of them were out of hate - I've performed there many times," he said in an interview with I-D."All of (the shows) have been successful. All of them have been magnificent. I've enjoyed connecting with Latinos who have been living in the U.S. But specifically, for a residency here in Puerto Rico, when we are an unincorporated territory of the U.S. ... people from the U.S. could come here to see the show," he added.
In October, longtime Trump adviser Corey Lewandowski warned that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents would be present at the 2026 Super Bowl and the three-time Grammy Award-winning rapper's halftime show. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. During an appearance on The Benny Show, Lewandowski was asked by podcast host Benny Johnson if "ICE will have enforcement at the Super Bowl for the Bad Bunny halftime show." Story continues below advertisement "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 you. We will apprehend you. We will put you in a detention facility and we will deport you," Lewandowski said.CONFIRMED: ICE will be active and on-site at Bad Bunny's Super Bowl performance.
Trump Advisor Corey Lewandowski warns: there's no place ICE won't go to remove criminal aliens from the US, even the Super Bowl: "There is nowhere you can provide safe haven to people who are in... pic.twitter.com/kfKlGcuR7Q- Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) October 1, 2025Lewandowski went on to criticize the NFL for selecting Bad Bunny as the halftime show performer."It's so shameful they've decided to pick somebody who seems to hate America so much to represent them at the halftime show," Lewandowski said of the performer.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said there was "no tangible plan" to deploy ICE agents at the Super Bowl following Lewandowski's comments. Story continues below advertisement "As far as ICE being at the Super Bowl, as far as I'm aware there's no tangible plan for that in store right now," Leavitt said on Oct. 3. "However, of course, this administration is always going to arrest and deport illegal immigrants when we find them if they are criminals. We're going to do the right thing by our country." 0:32 No 'tangible plan' for ICE at Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime performance, WH says Trending Now Trump says U.S. used 'secret weapon' on Maduro raid in Venezuela U.S. federal, Minnesota officials offer starkly different messages on Alex Pretti's death In October 2025, Bad Bunny addressed the backlash he's received after being announced as the halftime performer while hosting Saturday Night Live (SNL)."You may not know this but I'm doing the Super Bowl halftime show," Bad Bunny said at the time. "I'm very happy and I think everyone is very happy about it! Even Fox News."SNL played a montage of clips of news