“Donald Trump is the undisputed champion of division,” Warnock says after Super Bowl halftime flap
WASHINGTON — Sen. Raphael Warnock criticized President Donald Trump on Monday after Trump’s condemnation of Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show helped turn the performance into a political flashpoint online.
“Only Donald Trump could (try to) divide the nation over a Super Bowl Half-time Show,” Warnock, a Georgia Democrat, wrote on X. Warnock added that Trump “is actually unrivaled” at “DIVISION,” calling him “the undisputed champion” at it.
Only Donald Trump could (try to) divide the nation over a Super Bowl Half-time Show. The man often boasts that he’s better at practically everything than anybody, anywhere. Here’s where he is actually unrivaled: DIVISION! When it comes to that, he is the undisputed champion!
— Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (@SenatorWarnock) February 9, 2026
Trump’s comments came after Bad Bunny headlined the Super Bowl LX halftime show with a performance that was largely in Spanish and framed as a celebration of Puerto Rican culture. The halftime show drew strong reactions across the political spectrum, with some viewers praising its theme and scale, and others criticizing its language choice and imagery.
On Truth Social, Trump criticized the performance in sharp terms, calling it “one of the worst ever” and arguing that the all-Spanish presentation was disrespectful to the country. ABC News reported that Trump described the show as “absolutely terrible” and “a ‘slap in the face’ to our country.”
Warnock did not reference Bad Bunny by name in the tweet shown in the X Publish preview, but his post echoed a broader wave of Democratic pushback to Trump’s halftime-show criticism. The debate also spilled into conservative media and activist circles, including Turning Point USA’s promotion of an alternative “All-American” halftime event, which some outlets described as a counterprogramming effort.
The reaction to Bad Bunny’s performance also produced a separate swirl of online misinformation. Politifact reported that a viral claim incorrectly identified a child featured during the performance as a 5-year-old who had been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement; the fact-check said the child in the show was a different person.
The Super Bowl routinely draws political commentary, but halftime performances have become especially prone to cultural and partisan debate as artists use large audiences to showcase identity, symbolism and messaging — and as political figures respond in real time on social media.
Trump, who has frequently used social platforms to comment on entertainment and sports controversies, framed his criticism as a defense of national identity and family viewing. Supporters of the performance, including some celebrities and public figures, described it as inclusive and celebratory.
Warnock’s post did not call for any specific policy response, but it added another high-profile political voice to the fast-moving online argument — one that, for a moment, pulled the Super Bowl halftime show into the center of a wider partisan fight.
