MAGA's Alternative Super Bowl Halftime Show Sparks Debate Over American Identity
This week, prominent figures in the MAGA movement, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, have expressed enthusiastic support for Turning Point USA's planned Super Bowl halftime counterprogramming event scheduled for Sunday. Political science experts suggest this excitement stems from deeper fears among conservatives about what they perceive they are "losing" in American culture.
The Controversial Halftime Alternative
On Monday, the right-wing political group founded by Charlie Kirk announced its lineup for an alternative halftime concert, created in protest of Bad Bunny being selected to headline the official 2026 Super Bowl halftime show. The announcement of the Puerto Rican global superstar in September triggered strong reactions from many conservatives, including former President Donald Trump and several members of his administration. In response, Turning Point USA revealed in October that it would host its own show simultaneously with Bad Bunny's performance.
The concert, billed as "The All-American Halftime Show," will feature country singers Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, and Gabby Barrett, with longtime Trump enthusiast Kid Rock as the headliner. According to its promotional materials, the event celebrates "faith, family, & freedom." While social media users have mocked the lineup, MAGA supporters have embraced it with fervor.
Political Reactions and Expert Analysis
Vance praised the lineup as "fantastic" in a post on X, while Hegseth humorously questioned if his "Department of War" could participate. Other right-wing voices, like influencer Gunther Eagleman, exclaimed that the lineup is "STACKED." Conservatives' anger towards Bad Bunny is multifaceted; the artist sings primarily in Spanish, has criticized the Trump administration's immigration policies, and plans to perform in Spanish during the halftime show.
Trump labeled Bad Bunny a "terrible choice" that sows "hatred," and House Speaker Mike Johnson argued the performer would not "appeal to a broader audience." Senator Tommy Tuberville suggested Bad Bunny spreads "anti-American propaganda." Political scientists, however, offer a different perspective on the MAGA enthusiasm for the alternative show.
Underlying Fears and Cultural Battles
Antoine Yoshinaka, an associate professor of political science at the University at Buffalo, notes that conservatives have been upset with the NFL over issues like Colin Kaepernick's protests and the inclusion of the Black national anthem. He explains, "We are living in a time where conservatives feel emboldened and want to 'take back' what they feel they have been losing." Jaime Dominguez, a political scientist at Northwestern University, adds that the promotion of the alternative show is an attempt for MAGA to "remain relevant and to continue their assault on diversity," exposing a "loathing of the Spanish language."
Experts highlight the intentionality behind labeling the concert "all-American" with an all-white lineup. Dominguez describes it as "very intentional" and playing to the base, with words like "distraction," "division," and "petty" coming to mind. Yoshinaka emphasizes the lack of subtlety, pointing to the music genres, performers' demographics, and language choices as deliberate. He references a survey by Turning Point USA where the first option was "Anything in English," stating, "No subtlety there."
Broader Implications for American Identity
The promotion of the TPUSA concert implies that speaking Spanish is not associated with being American, despite Spanish being the most commonly spoken non-English language in the United States. Dominguez stresses, "The Spanish language is as American as apple pie and more so in particular states that have a large concentration of Latinos." He also notes that many critics overlook that Puerto Rico is part of America, viewing the backlash as "another attempt to denigrate a person of color who has a global impact."
Yoshinaka connects the vitriol to Bad Bunny's public criticisms of Trump, suggesting that accusations of "hatred" or being "anti-American" are tactics to delegitimize opponents without addressing substantive issues. He also points out the irony of conservatives planning to boycott the halftime show while often accusing the left of "cancel culture."
Irony and Historical Context
Yoshinaka highlights the irony of MAGA celebrating the alternative lineup when Bad Bunny recently made history at the 2026 Grammy Awards, winning Album of the Year for "Debí Tirar Más Fotos," the first Spanish-language album to receive the top honor. He remarks that Bad Bunny is "one of the most popular artists around the world at the moment," making it logical for the NFL to associate with him. This contrast underscores the cultural and political divisions at play, as the event becomes a flashpoint in ongoing debates over diversity, language, and national identity in America.
