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Donald Trump sparked fresh controversy on Sunday after calling US Olympic skier Hunter Hess a «real Loser» in a Truth Social post, attacking the athlete for expressing doubts about representing the country during the Winter Olympic Games. The president’s comments landed as the United States remains politically divided during Trump’s second term, with public tensions rising over immigration enforcement and protest movements. Hess had told reporters he felt “mixed emotions representing the US right now,” framing his Olympic participation as personal rather than political. Trump’s post quickly amplified the debate over patriotism and free speech, turning a routine press availability into a national political flashpoint.

Trump wrote: «U.S. Olympic Skier, Hunter Hess, a real Loser, says he doesn’t represent his Country in the current Winter Olympics. If that’s the case, he shouldn’t have tried out for the Team, and it’s too bad he’s on it. Very hard to root for someone like this. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!» The message was posted after Hess spoke openly about the current climate in the United States. The skier, who is from Bend, Oregon, said last week that «just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the US.» His remarks were part of broader media questioning of American athletes about politics, but appeared to strike a nerve with Trump.

«U.S. Olympic Skier, Hunter Hess, a real Loser, says he doesn’t represent his Country in the current Winter Olympics. If that’s the case, he shouldn’t have tried out for the Team, and it’s too bad he’s on it. Very hard to root for someone like this. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!»

-President, Donald Trump

Hess explained that his focus remained on the people close to him rather than the administration. «It’s a little hard; there’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of and I think a lot of people aren’t,» he said. «I think for me, it’s more I’m representing my friends and family back home, the people that represented it before me, all the things that I believe that are good about the US.» After Trump’s criticism went viral, Hess appeared to respond in an Instagram post, emphasizing both pride and dissent. «There is so much that is great about America, but there are always things that could be better,» he wrote.

In the same post, Hess defended his right to speak out while confirming his commitment to Team USA. «One of the many things that makes this country so amazing is that we have the right and the freedom to point that out,» he wrote. «The best part of the Olympics is that it brings people together, and when so many of us are divided we need that more than ever.» He added: «I cannot wait to represent Team USA next week when I compete.» His comments came as multiple US freestyle skiers faced similar questions about representing the country under Trump’s leadership and amid rising political polarization.

«I couldn’t believe the outlandish backlash I’ve received for just supporting people.»

-Team USA Figure skater, Amber Glenn

Other American athletes echoed the same unease. Skier Chris Lillis told reporters: «I feel heartbroken about what’s happening in the United States.» Referring to immigration enforcement and public protests, he added: «I think that as a country, we need to focus on respecting everybody’s rights and making sure that we’re treating our citizens as well as anybody, with love and respect.» Another skier, Quinn Dehlinger, said: «The political divide in the United States is very prevalent, and competition and sports is always a way to bring people together.» The US Olympic and Paralympic Committee said its focus was on Hess’ protection and support.

The issue of political backlash has extended beyond Hess to other Team USA athletes. Figure skater Amber Glenn said she received death threats and an unprecedented wave of online abuse after speaking about it being a “tough time” for the LGBTQ+ community under Donald Trump. Glenn, who helped the United States secure team gold in Milan, said the reaction stunned her. «I couldn’t believe the outlandish backlash I’ve received for just supporting people,» she said, adding that she stepped away from social media because of the volume of harmful messages. The US Olympic and Paralympic Committee said it has seen an increase in abusive behavior toward athletes and stressed that it remains focused on protecting competitors and supporting them throughout the Games.

Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX halftime show has set a new benchmark in television history. According to preliminary estimates from NBC’s primary telecast, the performance drew approximately 135.4 million viewers, making it the most-watched halftime show ever. While final Nielsen numbers are still pending an official statement, early data indicates that the Puerto Rican artist has surpassed the previous record held by Kendrick Lamar in 2025, which stood at 133.5 million viewers. The audience size also exceeded Michael Jackson’s iconic 1993 halftime show, long considered the gold standard. The scale of viewership underscored the global attention surrounding Bad Bunny’s appearance, both musically and politically.

NBC’s early estimates suggest that Bad Bunny’s all-Spanish setlist and high-energy production played a key role in driving viewership. Performing under his longtime nickname “Conejo Malo,” the artist delivered a tightly choreographed show featuring theatrical visuals and guest appearances, including Ricky Martin and Lady Gaga. The performance aired as part of the Apple Music halftime show during Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California. Network executives indicated that the numbers reflect combined linear and streaming audiences, though final totals remain subject to verification. If confirmed, the figure would mark the first time a Spanish-language halftime show has claimed the top spot in Super Bowl history.

«God Bless América, sea Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Perú, Ecuador, Brasil, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Panamá, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, México, Cuba, República Dominicana, Jamaica, Haití, Antigua, Anguila, Estados Unidos, Canadá. And my motherland, mi patria, Puerto Rico. Seguimos aquí.»

-Bad Bunny

The record-setting audience came amid sharp political backlash. Donald Trump reacted to the performance in a lengthy Truth Social post, calling it «absolutely terrible» and «one of the worst, EVER.» He wrote: «The Super Bowl Halftime Show is absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER! It makes no sense, is an affront to the Greatness of America, and doesn’t represent our standards of Success, Creativity, or Excellence.» Trump also attacked the language and choreography, stating: «Nobody understands a word this guy is saying,» and described the dancing as «disgusting,» particularly for children watching in the United States and abroad.

Trump further framed the performance as a symbolic insult to the country. «This “Show” is just a “slap in the face” to our Country,» he wrote, while accusing media outlets of being out of touch. Conservative commentators aligned with the MAGA movement echoed the criticism, with some questioning Bad Bunny’s place on America’s biggest stage and claiming he was “not American,” despite the artist being born in Puerto Rico, a US territory. Trump had previously called Bad Bunny a «terrible choice» for the halftime show, making his reaction consistent with earlier opposition expressed when the selection was announced.

«The Super Bowl Halftime Show is absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER! It makes no sense, is an affront to the Greatness of America, and doesn’t represent our standards of Success, Creativity, or Excellence.»

-President, Donald Trump

The backlash also included organized counter-programming. Conservative non-profit Turning Point USA promoted an alternative event dubbed “The All-American Halftime Show,” headlined by Kid Rock and other artists supportive of the Trump administration. The event was marketed as a response to what organizers described as the NFL’s cultural direction. Despite those efforts, social media engagement and viewership metrics indicated that Bad Bunny’s performance dominated public attention, with watch parties forming across Puerto Rico, California, and multiple US cities throughout the night.

During the halftime show itself, Bad Bunny delivered a clear message of unity and resistance. A football displayed the phrase «Together we are America,» while the stadium jumbotron showed «The only thing more powerful than hate is love.» Standing beside the US flag and the Puerto Rican flag, Bad Bunny expanded the meaning of patriotism to include the Americas as a whole. He closed the performance by saying: «God Bless América, sea Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Perú, Ecuador, Brasil, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Panamá, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, México, Cuba, República Dominicana, Jamaica, Haití, Antigua, Anguila, Estados Unidos, Canadá. And my motherland, mi patria, Puerto Rico. Seguimos aquí.» The moment resonated widely, as evidenced by the record-breaking audience, positioning Bad Bunny not only as a global music star, but also as a cultural figure increasingly seen as a symbol of defiance against Trump-era rhetoric.

Donald Trump sharply criticized Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX halftime show on Sunday night, calling it «one of the worst, EVER» and «an affront to the Greatness of America» in a lengthy Truth Social post. The president did not attend the game in Santa Clara, California, instead watching from a private gathering in Florida, according to CNN. His comments were published shortly after the Apple Music halftime show concluded, as millions of viewers reacted online. Trump’s statement quickly gained attention for its aggressive tone and for expanding far beyond a simple critique of the performance, touching on culture, media, and politics.

In the opening of his Truth Social post, Trump directly attacked the performance, writing: «The Super Bowl Halftime Show is absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER! It makes no sense, is an affront to the Greatness of America, and doesn’t represent our standards of Success, Creativity, or Excellence.» He then targeted Bad Bunny’s Spanish-language performance, stating: «Nobody understands a word this guy is saying.» Trump also criticized the choreography, calling it «disgusting,» and argued that it was inappropriate «especially for young children that are watching from throughout the U.S.A., and all over the World.» His comments framed the show as both offensive and culturally unacceptable.

«The Super Bowl Halftime Show is absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER! It makes no sense, is an affront to the Greatness of America, and doesn’t represent our standards of Success, Creativity, or Excellence.»

-President, Donald Trump

Trump then pushed the criticism further by portraying the halftime show as a national insult. He wrote: «This “Show” is just a “slap in the face” to our Country, which is setting new standards and records every single day.» He later repeated the idea that the performance symbolized disrespect toward the United States. Trump tied the issue to economic messaging, adding: «including the Best Stock Market and 401(k)s in History!» He also accused media outlets of being disconnected from public opinion, writing: «It will get great reviews from the Fake News Media, because they haven’t got a clue of what is going on in the REAL WORLD.» The post ended with his campaign slogan.

Bad Bunny’s halftime show presented a different tone, combining spectacle with political and cultural symbolism. Born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, the Puerto Rican superstar performed a selection of major hits while using dramatic visuals and theatrical staging tied to themes from his Spanish-language catalog. Several high-profile stars appeared during the set, including Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin. During the performance, Bad Bunny delivered a message that broadened the meaning of the phrase «God bless America» by applying it to the entire continent. «God bless America, whether it’s Chile, Argentina,» he said, before listing more than 20 nations across North and South America.

The performance also displayed direct messages of unity. At one point, a football showed the phrase «Together we are America,» while the stadium jumbotron displayed «The only thing more powerful than hate is love.» Bad Bunny stood beside the US flag and the Puerto Rican flag, emphasizing Puerto Rico’s status as a US territory. The show’s use of Spanish also drew attention, especially after Trump complained about the language. Yet the United States has one of the largest Spanish-speaking populations in the world, with more than 41.8 million people speaking Spanish at home, according to Census Bureau data cited by CNN. The performance had faced backlash for months, including conservative counter-programming events.

«The only thing more powerful than hate is love.»

-Bad Bunny

The controversy surrounding the halftime show did not prevent it from breaking records. Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX halftime performance on February 8, 2026, became the most-watched halftime show in history, drawing an estimated 135.4 million viewers. The number surpassed the previous record held by Kendrick Lamar in 2025, which reached 133.5 million viewers, as well as Michael Jackson’s 1993 performance, estimated at 133.4 million. The record-breaking audience highlighted the scale of public interest in Bad Bunny’s appearance, even as political criticism intensified. The viewership milestone also reinforced Bad Bunny’s global reach, as the artist remains one of the most-streamed performers in the world.