Trump’s Bad Bunny jab is blowing back on Republicans — and Latino strategists are warning about 2026

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s criticism of Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show has turned into a political headache for Republicans, with Hispanic GOP strategists and community leaders warning that the attack could further weaken the party’s standing with Latino voters ahead of the 2026 midterms.

The dispute started after Trump said the performance — largely in Spanish — was “unsuitable for children,” framing it as a cultural provocation rather than entertainment. The backlash has been loud because Bad Bunny isn’t just another celebrity name in a headline; he’s one of the most visible symbols of Puerto Rican and Latino pop culture, and the Super Bowl stage amplified that symbolism across the country.

Republican operatives quoted in Reuters described the criticism as a strategic error in districts where Latino turnout can decide House seats. Their argument isn’t that every Latino voter is a Bad Bunny fan — it’s that picking a fight with a widely admired cultural figure, specifically over Spanish language, risks reinforcing an “outsider” message that many voters already feel from national politics.

The timing is especially sensitive because Latino political support is already described as softer than it was during the 2024 election cycle, with surveys showing a notable drop in approval among Latino voters tied to economic pressures and hardline immigration enforcement. In that context, strategists say it’s hard to rebuild trust while also triggering a fresh wave of cultural resentment online.

Reuters reported that some conservative Latinos defended Trump’s critique, while others urged party leaders to focus on bread-and-butter issues and build Spanish-language outreach rather than spark an identity fight that can dominate news cycles. The divide has played out loudly on social media, where the halftime show controversy became less about choreography and more about who gets to be “American” on the biggest TV night of the year.

The episode also illustrates a broader reality of 2026 politics: viral culture moments now function like campaign ads that nobody paid for. A comment from a president can turn into weeklong coverage, fundraising fodder, and organizing fuel — especially when it ties into language, identity, and belonging.