Amid all the threats from ICE agents at Sunday’s Super Bowl and Donald Trump and his MAGA minions vowing to change the channel if Bad Bunny appears on the halftime stage in sunny Santa Clara with an all-Spanish performance, Gavin Newsom gave the Grammy winner a full day to himself on Saturday.
Additionally, the California governor was scathing about the career woes of the president’s friend Kid Rock and the conservative alternative halftime show scheduled for the big game between the Seattle Seahawks and the underdog New England Patriots.
“I declare tomorrow ‘Bad Bunny Day’ in California when Bad Bunny performs at the big game in Golden State with his soothing, beautiful voice and great looks,” a highly sarcastic post from Newsom’s newsroom feed on Saturday revealed.
Newsom’s letter, which many have long trolled President Trump in preparation for the two-term Democrat’s 2028 bid for the White House, is written in all caps and contains the over-the-top self-aggrandizement common to the president himself, which is often the point. And this is no joke on another level, as February 8th is officially Bad Bunny Day in California.
Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, aka Bad Bunny, a Puerto Rican-born immigrant rights activist who doesn’t want to see his fan base subjected to harassment, abduction or deportation by DHS, says his historic Super Bowl LX performance will likely be his only performance in the United States this year. Politically, Bad Bunny made it clear at last weekend’s Grammy Awards with a sharp speech: “‘ICE OUT!…We are not savages, we are not animals, we are not aliens, we are human beings, we are Americans.”
Trump did his customary pregame interview on Super Bowl broadcasters this year, but despite his friendship with Patriots owner Robert Kraft, he will be absent from NBC’s Super Bowl this weekend. President Trump, who gave up because of Cali’s distance from the East Coast (and the jeers and boos he would likely receive on live TV) and called Bunny’s selection “ridiculous,” said he would watch the game on TV. Newsom will join more than 68,000 fans at the San Francisco 49ers’ home stadium in his final year as governor.
Earlier this week, without naming the guest star, Bunny, who recently won a Grammy for Album of the Year, spoke about his plans for the show. “I really want it to be fun. It’s going to be a big party. I want to bring what people can expect from me and a lot from my culture.”
In response, Newsom took a few more digs at Team Trump on Saturday, exclaiming that he’s a “Spanish fanatic” and a “huge fan of Pueraria Rico,” delivering a near-perfect impression of the current president: “We love Bad Bunny! He’s almost as ‘hot’ as I am. That’s a huge compliment, because there’s no one more ‘hot.'” Happy Bad Bunny Day, America. ”
Similarly, Apple President Tim Cook, who has spent the past year moonlighting and giving Trump gifts, praised the bunny on social media this weekend.
CEO Cook isn’t entirely altruistic in risking President Trump’s wrath by hanging out with the singer. Apple Music has been sponsoring the Super Bowl halftime show since 2023. The performers for the big stage will be selected by Jay-Z’s Roc Nation in partnership with the NFL. Although well known for paying lip service to social movements and causes, the Roger Goodell-run league has long sought to expand its reach among Latinos, which is likely a contributing factor to why they supported and continue to support the Bunnies at the 2026 show despite MAGA backlash.
Speaking of the aforementioned backlash, part of the reaction to the halftime show starring Bunny, whose American citizenship is unfairly questioned, is the competing All-American Halftime Show from Turning Point USA, founded by Charlie Kirk. Other lower-wattage halftime shows will be available on TPUSA’s social feeds, Real America’s Voice, OAN, and more. After mockingly banishing Kid Rock from the state last September, this replacement show gives Newsom a nice stick to beat the “angry” country rapper with once again.
The so-called “All-American” show, scheduled to take place at the exact same time as the NFL’s halftime shindig, comes as Bob Ritchie, aka The Rock, learns that MAGA’s intended “Rock the Country” festival dates on July 25 and 26 have been canceled one after another over all the political issues. There’s no word on how far the rest of the current seven-city tour will go.
By the way, just to clarify, Kid Rock isn’t actually banned in California.
The first Super Bowl, which is sure to garner attention as it also contrasts with the Winter Olympics in Italy, which will be broadcast on NBC, will officially begin at 6:30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT after several hours of pre-game festivities. The Seahawks-Patriots matchup will be broadcast live on NBC (again), streamed live on Peacock, and available on Spanish-language broadcasts on Telemundo and Universo.