Donald Trump harshly criticized Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime performance, calling it one of the worst ever — but many people quickly pointed out an obvious irony in his remarks.

Although the Seattle Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots 29–13 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, much of the public conversation centered not on the game, but on the halftime shows.

For the first time, viewers had two options: the NFL’s official halftime show headlined by Bad Bunny, and a conservative counter-program called the “All-American Halftime Show,” streamed by Turning Point USA and featuring Kid Rock and several country artists.

Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, made history as the first solo male Latin artist to headline the Super Bowl and the first to perform an entire set in Spanish. His show included appearances from Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, along with cameos by Pedro Pascal, Cardi B, Karol G, and Jessica Alba. He performed hits like “Tití Me Preguntó,” “MONACO,” and “BAILE INoLVIDABLE,” while sharing messages such as “The only thing more powerful than hate is love” and “Together, We Are America.”

Many viewers praised the performance as a milestone for Latin representation on one of America’s biggest stages. California Governor Gavin Newsom even declared February 8 “Bad Bunny Day,” and celebrities like Katy Perry celebrated the show’s cultural significance.

Meanwhile, Turning Point USA’s alternative halftime show, promoted around themes of “faith, family and freedom,” drew about four million viewers on YouTube — a fraction of the roughly 127 million who typically watch the NFL’s official halftime show.

That broadcast also faced criticism online, including accusations of lip-syncing and resurfaced controversies tied to Kid Rock’s past lyrics and comments.

The two shows highlighted sharp cultural and political divides. Some critics complained about Bad Bunny performing entirely in Spanish, calling it political. Influencers like Jake Paul labeled him “anti-American,” despite the fact that Puerto Ricans have held U.S. citizenship since 1917 — and both Paul brothers currently reside in Puerto Rico.

Supporters countered that past halftime performers like The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, U2, Rihanna, and The Weeknd had not faced similar backlash, arguing that criticism of Bad Bunny reflected double standards.

Trump, hosting a Super Bowl watch party at Mar-a-Lago, quickly posted on Truth Social that the halftime show was “terrible” and “an affront to the Greatness of America.”

He complained that viewers couldn’t understand the lyrics and described the performance as inappropriate for children. He had previously criticized the NFL’s choice of performers, saying he would skip attending because of them.

But here’s the twist that social media users couldn’t ignore: Trump’s detailed criticism made it clear he was watching the NFL’s official broadcast — not the conservative “All-American” alternative featuring Kid Rock, whom he has publicly supported.

Despite having an ideologically aligned option available, Trump appeared to watch — and live-comment on — the mainstream halftime show he claimed to oppose.

That contradiction quickly became the focus online, with many mocking him for “hate-watching” Bad Bunny instead of supporting the alternative event.

For all the talk about cultural alternatives, critics noted, even Trump tuned in to the main stage — even if only to criticize it afterward.