Longtime Trump adviser Corey Lewandowski said Wednesday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents would be deployed at the 2026 Super Bowl following the announcement that singer Bad Bunny is scheduled to headline the halftime show.
Bad Bunny, a three-time Grammy Award winner, has been an outspoken critic of ICE operations. He omitted U.S. stops from his most recent tour, citing concerns that fans could risk detention by immigration authorities at his concerts.
“But there was the issue of — like, f—ing ICE could be outside [my concert]. And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about,” he told i-D last month.
Lewandowski, who advises the Department of Homeland Security, also criticized the NFL for choosing Bad Bunny as the halftime show performer, describing the artist as a polarizing figure.
“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. “We should be trying to be inclusive, not exclusive. There are plenty of great bands and entertainment people who could be playing at that show that would be bringing people together and not separating them.”
“If there are illegal aliens, 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. We are going to make Americans safe. That is a directive from the president. If you’re in this country illegally, go home,” he added.
A DHS spokesperson told Fox News regarding the situation: “There is no safe haven for violent criminal illegal aliens in the United States.”
Former Indy and NASCAR champ Danica Patrick was among several right-leaning figures who blasted the NFL’s decision.
In response to a social media post about the Puerto Rican rapper, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, Patrick criticized the NFL’s decision to feature him at the Super Bowl halftime show in Santa Clara, California, calling it inappropriate for what he described as one of the most-watched television events in the country.
“Oh fun,” the former race car driver said on X. “No songs in English should not be allowed at one of America’s highest rated television events of the year … not just for sports.”
Patrick, 43, has openly shared her political views in recent years. She campaigned for Donald Trump during his 2024 presidential run, despite previously not voting in elections.
In response to criticism, NFL executive Jon Barker issued a statement defending the league’s decision, emphasizing the artist’s global reach and popularity.
“Bad Bunny represents the global energy and cultural vibrancy that define today’s music scene,” Barker said. “As one of the most influential and streamed artists in the world, his unique ability to bridge genres, languages, and audiences makes him an exciting and natural choice to take the Super Bowl halftime stage,” Barker claimed.
“We know his dynamic performances, creative vision, and deep connection with fans will deliver the kind of unforgettable experience we’ve come to expect from this iconic cultural moment,” he added.
The New York Post reported that the NFL had been pursuing pop icon Taylor Swift for the halftime performance but it didn’t come to fruition.
As for Bad Bunny, he issued a statement after the NFL’s announcement that wasn’t very inclusive.
“This is for my people, my culture, and our history,” he said.
