Turning Point USA Launches "All American Halftime Show" to Counter Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Performance, But Critics Miss a Key Fact

In a cultural clash that's gaining national intensity, Turning Point USA, the conservative political organization founded by Charlie Kirk, has announced its own "All American Halftime Show" in response to the NFL's decision to tap Bad Bunny as the official Super Bowl LX headliner.

The move is being framed as a patriotic alternative to what some right-wing figures have called an un-American selection. But there's just one problem with the backlash: Bad Bunny is American.

Bad Bunny Is American. Here's Why.

Despite the outrage in certain political circles, critics appear to be ignoring a basic fact.Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, is a U.S. citizen. He was born and raised in Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory. By law, everyone born in Puerto Rico is a citizen of the United States. That has been the case since 1917 under the Jones–Shafroth Act.

Bad Bunny's citizenship is not symbolic. He votes in U.S. elections, pays U.S. taxes, and has a passport issued by the United States. In other words, he is just as "American" as Bruce Springsteen, Dolly Parton, or Taylor Swift, even if he performs in Spanish.

What Turning Point USA Announced

On October 9, Turning Point revealed plans for its "All American Halftime Show," intended to stream or air during the official Super Bowl halftime break. In a press release, the group said the event would celebrate "faith, family, and freedom." Performers have not yet been confirmed.

So far, the group has not disclosed where or how the event will be produced. The vague rollout has led many to speculate that the announcement is more symbolic than serious, though the organization insists the show is happening.

The Backlash Over Bad Bunny's Headlining Role

Since the NFL and Apple Music confirmed Bad Bunny as the Super Bowl LX halftime headliner, conservative commentators have taken to social media calling the move "woke" and "anti-American." Some have suggested that a Spanish-language performance is inappropriate for an American football event, despite the NFL's global reach and the U.S.'s multicultural reality.

The reality is that Bad Bunny, a multi-platinum recording artist, two-time Grammy winner, and the leading artist in nominations for the Latin Grammys, is the most streamed musician in the world this year, including ahead of Taylor Swift.

He made history as the first Spanish-language artist to headline Coachella, and he has appeared in Marvel films, hosted Saturday Night Live, and consistently charted on Billboard. He is arguably one of the most influential American entertainers alive today.

While this is the first time the NFL has chosen somebody who doesn't sing in the English language, there have been several foreign-born artists headlining the halftime, such as Rihanna, Coldplay, the Rolling Stones, Shakira, the Weeknd, Enrique Iglesias, and more. Gloria Estefan, the artist with more Super Bowl halftime performances under her belt, was born in Cuba.

What Comes Next

Details on Turning Point's "All American Halftime Show" remain scarce. Meanwhile, Bad Bunny is expected to bring a Spanish-dominant, multicultural performance to Levi's Stadium on February 8, 2026.

Whether you watch the Super Bowl or the spin-off show, one thing is certain, the debate over who gets to define "American culture" is heating up just in time for election season.