ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith addressed the reaction to the Super Bowl 60 halftime show during his nightly program. Smith discussed the topic on The Stephen A. Smith Show after Trump posted a lengthy message calling the set one of the worst in the event’s history.
Stephen A. Smith Says English Songs Would Have Helped Super Bowl Audience
Trump shared his views on Truth Social following the game between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Trump wrote that “nobody understands a word this guy is saying” and described the show as a slap in the face to the country. Trump also used the post to criticize the NFL’s new kickoff rule and called for it to be replaced immediately.
Smith told viewers he agreed with part of the president’s argument, focusing on the language used during the performance. He said many Americans expected to hear at least some English lyrics during a broadcast that draws one of the year’s largest audiences.
“There are millions upon millions of Americans who would have wanted to hear something in English other than Lady Gaga. That is true,” Smith said. “And me personally, when I see J-Lo out there, when I see Shakira out there, when I see a few people celebrating their Hispanic heritage, no doubt. But it also would have been nice for some of the songs in English. That’s all.”
Wow: Stephen A. Smith agrees with President Trump for calling out Bad Bunny’s all-Spanish halftime show.
“There’s millions of Americans who would have wanted to hear something in English. Personally… it also would have been nice if some of the songs were in English.”
😳😳😳 pic.twitter.com/ZRmaJRUPOh
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) February 10, 2026
Bad Bunny’s set featured the Puerto Rican artist performing primarily from his Spanish-language catalog. Other performers, including Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, appeared during the show.
Trump did not attend the Super Bowl and could have been watching from the White House or his home at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. His comments reflected a broader debate among viewers about how the halftime show should balance cultural representation with mainstream accessibility. Some supporters of the president indicated beforehand that they planned to watch an alternate event sponsored by Turning Point USA featuring Kid Rock.
Smith framed his remarks as a question of audience reach rather than an attack on Latin culture. He acknowledged Bad Bunny’s global popularity and said the issue was about expectations for a uniquely American sports showcase. The Super Bowl broadcast has, in recent years, emphasized international growth, with the league hosting regular-season games in Mexico, Europe, and South America.
The halftime show has long served as a flashpoint for cultural arguments, and this year continued that pattern. Smith said the conversation should focus on how to entertain the widest possible audience without dismissing any community.
Trump ended his post with a familiar campaign slogan and predicted the show would receive positive reviews from media outlets despite public backlash. The NFL has not issued a response to the president’s remarks.
