Trump to Skip Super Bowl LX, Criticizes Entertainment Choices Ahead of February 8 Showdown
Donald Trump announced Saturday that he will not attend Super Bowl LX, scheduled for Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, saying the distance from Washington, D.C., makes the trip impractical. Trump, 79, previously attended the 2025 Super Bowl in New Orleans, becoming the first sitting president to be at the game in recent history.
In an interview with the New York Post, Trump described the travel to Northern California as “just too far away,” although he added he might have gone if it were shorter. While insisting the distance is his primary reason, Trump also took aim at the entertainment lineup, calling the NFL’s choice of performers “a terrible choice” that “sows hatred.”
The upcoming Super Bowl will feature Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny as the Apple Music Super Bowl LX halftime show headliner — a historically significant booking as Bad Bunny will be the first solo Latin artist and Spanish-language act to headline the halftime show.
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Trump’s remarks also referenced punk rock band Green Day, tapped for a performance during the event’s festivities, both of whom have publicly criticized the president and his policies in recent years. Trump said he is “anti-them,” in reference to the performers, and reiterated his disapproval of the entertainment choices.
The decision not to attend arrives amid broader cultural and political tension around the Super Bowl’s entertainment selections and their symbolic weight, particularly Bad Bunny’s status as a high-profile Latin artist whose music and public statements have sometimes intersected with critiques of U.S. immigration policies and Trump’s administration.
Super Bowl LX is shaping up as one of the most watched television events of the year, with millions expected to tune in across broadcast and streaming platforms. Bad Bunny’s performance is being promoted by the NFL and Apple Music as a global and multicultural showcase, highlighting the league’s effort to broaden the Super Bowl’s cultural reach.
As the game approaches, Trump’s decision not to attend — and his sharp criticism of the halftime lineup — adds a new dimension of political controversy to an event that traditionally draws broad bipartisan attention. Whether his absence will influence public perception or viewership remains to be seen as the NFL continues promoting the Feb. 8 showdown.
