NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced that Bad Bunny will headline the Super Bowl halftime show, dismissing pushback on the League’s decision.

President Donald Trump criticized the choice as a break from tradition. The NFL has doubled down on the decision, noting the performance aims to celebrate audience diversity and promote unity among fans.

The league has continued to publicly back the choice, and Bad Bunny is expected to perform primarily in Spanish. Goodell and the league spokespeople have reiterated their efforts to expand global reach and cultural relevance.

Democrats have largely framed the issue as an entertainment choice rather than a policy matter. The NFL has not released any additional production details or guest performers.

Goodell said, “I’m not sure we’ve ever selected an artist where we didn’t have some blowback or criticism. It’s pretty hard to do when you have literally hundreds of millions of people that are watching.”

Bad Bunny’s past statements on U.S. immigration have drawn criticism from some fans.

Goodell said, “We’re confident it’s going to be a great show. He understands the platform that he’s on, and I think it’s going to be exciting and a united moment.”

Trump noted he does not know the performer and called the selection “ridiculous.” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) described the decision as “crazy.”

Trump said, “I don’t know why they’re doing it. It’s, like, crazy.” Trump added, “And then they blame it on some promoter they hired to pick up entertainment. I think it’s absolutely ridiculous.”

Goodell said, “He’s one of the leading and most popular entertainers in the world. That’s what we try to achieve. It’s an important stage for us. It’s an important element to the entertainment value.”