Among the loudest and most vehement voices responding to the NFL’s announcement of Bad Bunny as the 2026 Super Bowl halftime headliner was Pete Hegseth, a Fox News host, Army veteran, and cultural commentator.

His reaction was far from subtle or measured.

“Bad Bunny is the Spanish-singing puppet of the Left, and the NFL has just declared war on America,” Hegseth declared with unyielding conviction.

His words, sharp and uncompromising, spread like wildfire across social media platforms, conservative news outlets, and fan forums.

For millions of Americans already skeptical of the NFL’s cultural leanings, this was proof positive: the league wasn’t merely selecting a performer—it was choosing a side in the nation’s ongoing culture wars.

Hegseth’s incendiary commentary did not stop there.

Reports emerged that he urged Pentagon staffers to monitor and report any service members posting negative opinions about conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, further fueling controversy about his influence and intentions within military and political spheres.

The announcement itself was a lightning rod for division.

When NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell revealed Bad Bunny as the halftime show headliner, reactions were immediate and deeply polarized.

Progressives celebrated the move as a bold embrace of inclusivity, global culture, and a reflection of America’s diverse population.

To them, the choice symbolized progress and the evolving face of American entertainment.

Conversely, MAGA conservatives erupted in fury.

They accused the NFL of spitting on cherished traditions, undermining patriotism, and alienating the millions of fans who regard football as a sacred embodiment of Americana.

The social media landscape exploded with hashtags such as #BoycottNFL, #BadBunnyPuppet, and #CultureWarBowl, trending within hours and encapsulating the cultural battlefield that had been ignited.

Understanding the roots of this outrage requires an examination of Bad Bunny himself.

Born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio in Puerto Rico, he is a reggaeton and Latin trap superstar whose influence transcends music.

He has been outspoken against former President Donald Trump, famously labeling him “a tyrant clown.”

His artistic work often incorporates anti-establishment symbolism, including imagery of burning newspaper headlines and explicit protests against police brutality.

His progressive stances on fashion, politics, and social issues make him a polarizing figure.

To millions of fans worldwide, Bad Bunny is a fearless trailblazer.

To Pete Hegseth and many within the MAGA base, he is a provocation and symbol of cultural upheaval.

Within hours of the announcement, Hegseth took to the airwaves with a blistering rant.

“The Super Bowl is supposed to be America’s game,” he asserted.

“Families gather around the TV, veterans salute the flag, and for one night we remember what unites us.

And now the NFL has decided to shove Bad Bunny—a man who hates Trump, hates America’s traditions, and parrots leftist propaganda—down our throats.

This isn’t entertainment.

This is indoctrination.

” He accused the NFL of capitulating to Hollywood elites and weaponizing America’s most cherished sporting event to push a divisive cultural agenda.

“This isn’t a halftime show.

This is a declaration of war,” he warned.

The clip of his tirade went viral, amassing millions of views in less than 24 hours.

The conservative backlash quickly gained steam across multiple platforms.

On X (formerly Twitter), MAGA influencers proclaimed, “Football is dead to me.”

Facebook groups organized counter-events to boycott the halftime show, encouraging fans to switch off their televisions during the performance.

On Truth Social, supporters of former President Trump echoed Hegseth’s fury, framing the NFL as “run by the Left.”

One viral post encapsulated the mood succinctly: “We asked for America’s game.

They gave us America’s funeral.”

Yet not all voices joined the chorus of outrage.

Progressives and younger fans embraced the announcement as a sign of the times.

“The NFL finally picked someone global.

This is what America looks like now,” wrote a TikTok user, capturing the sentiment of many who viewed the move as revolutionary.

Music critics praised Bad Bunny’s selection as a bold and necessary shift.

Activists argued that the backlash only underscored the artist’s cultural power.

To them, Pete Hegseth’s fury was not righteous but outdated—a relic of a fading worldview.

At its core, this controversy is about more than just a singer.

It is a clash over what the Super Bowl, and by extension America, represents.

For conservatives, football is a patriotic tradition: the flag, the national anthem, a cold beer in hand, and halftime shows steeped in Americana.

For progressives, football is a global stage, an opportunity to showcase diversity, new voices, and bold artistic expression.

By selecting Bad Bunny, the NFL forced these competing visions into direct confrontation.

This is not the first time the Super Bowl halftime show has sparked political debate.

Beyoncé’s 2016 performance drew accusations of glorifying the Black Panthers.

Jennifer Lopez and Shakira’s 2020 show was simultaneously praised for diversity and condemned for perceived political messaging.

Eminem’s 2022 appearance, during which he knelt on stage, also ignited backlash.

Yet Pete Hegseth insists that Bad Bunny represents something different.

“Beyoncé and Shakira were political.

Bad Bunny is propaganda,” he contends, further entrenching the divide.

The NFL’s position is precarious.

The league thrives on unity, and the Super Bowl remains the last mass-audience television event in America.

But Hegseth’s warnings highlight real risks: a potential collapse in viewership if millions boycott, sponsorship withdrawal as brands seek to avoid cultural entanglements, and long-term damage to football’s status as America’s unifying game.

Already, conservative groups have threatened boycotts of major NFL sponsors such as Pepsi and Verizon.

Reports from early promotional events reveal the palpable division among audiences.

Younger fans have greeted Bad Bunny’s appearances with enthusiasm, while older fans have booed loudly.

Veterans’ groups have expressed outrage, calling the choice “a spit in the face.

” Though the 2026 halftime show has yet to occur, battle lines are clearly drawn.

Pete Hegseth’s supporters have rallied around him, hailing him as a truth-teller who voiced what many conservatives feel but have been reluctant to say aloud.

Some have even proposed organizing a “Patriotic Halftime Show” alternative—a livestream event featuring country singers, veterans, and American flags—to counter what they perceive as the NFL’s cultural betrayal.

Meanwhile, the NFL has maintained a studied silence beyond a brief statement: “The Super Bowl halftime show is about celebrating music and culture.

We are excited to welcome Bad Bunny to the stage.”

But as outrage grows, many question whether silence will suffice to quell the storm.

This controversy lays bare the deep fissures in American society, where even a halftime show becomes a proxy for broader cultural conflicts.

What should have been a celebration of music and culture has become a flashpoint for debates about identity, patriotism, and inclusion.

Pete Hegseth’s words echo like a warning siren: “The NFL has just declared war on America.”

As the 2026 Super Bowl approaches, the cultural battle rages on.

Its aftershocks may not only rattle the league and Hollywood but also challenge the very idea of American unity in an increasingly polarized nation.

The question remains: can the NFL navigate this storm and preserve its place as a unifying force, or will the halftime show become a symbol of division for years to come?