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The Super Bowl 2026 not only delivered a historic sports spectacle but also sparked a political and cultural debate that today divides the United States: who represents the country better, President Donald Trump or Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny?
According to the survey, 42% of respondents indicated that Bad Bunny better embodies American identity, while 39% chose the Republican leader.
The national survey was conducted by Yahoo and YouGov, with a representative sample of 1,704 American adults.
The survey was conducted between February 9 and 12, immediately after the Super Bowl halftime show, which adds particular relevance to the cultural impact of the performance.
The most striking fact appears among independents: 46% believe that Bad Bunny better represents the United States, compared to 27% who choose Trump.
The outcome, unexpected for the Republican environment, confirms the political significance that the Puerto Rican artist's show has acquired.
The public image of both: Opposing trends
According to the same survey, the president's approval rating is not at its best moment:
-39% have a favorable opinion of Trump and 58% view him unfavorably, his worst rating since January 2026.
Bad Bunny, on the other hand, maintains better levels of acceptance:
-43% favorable opinions, 36% unfavorable.
A political divide that spans the country
The survey confirms that the reaction to Bad Bunny goes beyond the cultural realm:
-78% of Democrats have a favorable opinion of the artist.
Among Republicans, the trend is reversed: 12% favorable, 70% unfavorable.
The survey also shows differences in event consumption:
51% of Americans say they have watched the Super Bowl, but only 29% saw the halftime show.
By party, the gap widens:
66% of Democrats watched Bad Bunny's performance; only 23% of Republicans did.
The data reflects a fragmented audience, further fueled by initiatives such as the alternative show broadcast by Turning Point USA with Kid Rock as the central figure.
Spanish as a Cultural Statement
The performance—the first Super Bowl show entirely in Spanish, except for a brief appearance by Lady Gaga singing "Die with a Smile" in a salsa version—was celebrated by the majority of the audience who watched it
65% reported enjoying it, 66% approved of it being conducted entirely in Spanish, and only 11% deemed it inappropriate due to the language.
Overall, 47% of Americans claim to have watched the presentation, although the audience shows a clear ideological bias: 61% among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents, compared to 23% among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents.
A closing rich in Pan-American symbolism
Bad Bunny concluded his performance by naming all the countries of the continent under a gigantic sign that read: "The only thing more powerful than hate is love."
He then pronounced God Bless America in an extended sense, referring to all of America, not exclusively to the United States.
The message received a 60% approval rating from respondents, including those who did not watch the show.
A Super Bowl turned into a political stage
Minutes after Bad Bunny left the stage at Levi's Stadium on February 8, Donald Trump reacted vehemently on his platform Truth Social.
"The Super Bowl halftime show is absolutely terrible, one of the worst in history," wrote the president.
He added: "It makes no sense, it is an affront to the greatness of the United States and does not represent our standards of success, creativity, or excellence."
The leader focused part of his attack on the use of Spanish. "No one understands a word of what this guy is saying," he claimed.
The criticisms were immediately amplified from conservative voices.
Megyn Kelly, former host of Fox News, stated: “The halftime show must remain essentially American. Not in Spanish, not Muslim, nothing other than the classic American apple pie.”
Laura Loomer, a Trump ally, stated: “There is nothing American about this at all.”
The influencer Jake Paul—who resides in Puerto Rico—called the artist "a false American citizen... who publicly hates the United States," urging his followers to turn off the television during the performance.
A conflict that had been brewing
The confrontation between Bad Bunny and Trump has precedents.
In 2025, the artist avoided scheduling dates in the United States for his tour Debí Tirar Más Fotos due to fears of ICE actions against his fans.
That same year, he launched Nuevayol, where an impersonator of the president said: “This country is nothing without immigrants… without Mexicans, Dominicans, Puerto Ricans, Colombians, Venezuelans, Cubans.”
When the NFL announced that Bad Bunny would headline the Super Bowl show, Trump described it as "absolutely ridiculous" and stated, "I don't know who he is... it's like madness." He later claimed that his presence in the show "only sows hatred."
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