Trump Adviser Warns ICE Will Be at Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show: “We Will Find You”
The upcoming Super Bowl LX halftime show is already sparking political controversy — and it hasn’t even happened yet. Days after the NFL announced Bad Bunny as the headliner for the 2026 halftime show, a top Trump adviser claimed that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will be stationed at the event to carry out enforcement operations.
Lewandowski Confirms ICE Presence at Super Bowl
Corey Lewandowski, a longtime ally of Donald Trump and former campaign adviser, made the comments during an appearance on The Benny Show podcast on October 1.
When asked directly whether ICE would be present at the Super Bowl, Lewandowski responded:
“There is nowhere you can provide safe haven to people who are in this country illegally. Not the Super Bowl and nowhere else. We will find you and apprehend you and put you in a detention facility and deport you.”
He added that this policy marks a clear break from prior administrations: “That is a very real situation under this administration, which is contrary to how it used to be.”
Lewandowski went further, calling Bad Bunny’s selection as a performer “shameful” and questioning his connection to American culture.
Bad Bunny Reacts to Halftime Announcement
Bad Bunny — born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio — was confirmed on September 28 as the halftime headliner. The 31-year-old Puerto Rican superstar told Apple Music 1 hosts Zane Lowe and Ebro Darden that the opportunity was deeply personal.
“I’m really excited for my friends, my family, Puerto Rico, and all the Latino people around the world. I’m excited about my culture. I’m excited about everything — not just for me. It feels really good,” he said.
In a follow-up statement, the reggaeton star added that the performance is “for my people, my culture, and our history.”
Why He Avoided Touring in the U.S.
The Super Bowl marks a rare U.S. performance for Bad Bunny. In recent months, he revealed he had avoided major U.S. tours due to concerns that ICE enforcement could target his shows.
In a September interview with i-D, Bad Bunny admitted:
“There were many reasons why I didn’t show up in the U.S., and none of them were out of hate… But there was the issue of — like, f—— ICE could be outside [my concert]. And it’s something we were very concerned about.”
Instead, he focused much of his recent career on shows in Puerto Rico, where U.S. fans could still travel to attend performances.
Political Backlash Over Halftime Choice
Lewandowski did not mince words when discussing the NFL’s choice of Bad Bunny.
“It’s so shameful they’ve decided to pick somebody who just seems to hate America so much to represent them at the halftime game,” he told podcast host Benny Johnson. “We should be trying to be inclusive, not exclusive. There are plenty of great bands who could bring people together instead of dividing them.”
Johnson then pressed him on whether ICE would truly be at the event. Lewandowski doubled down, insisting:
“It will be everywhere Bad Bunny plays. I don’t care if it’s a concert for Johnny Smith or Bad Bunny or anybody else — we’re going to do enforcement everywhere because we’re going to make Americans safe.”
He concluded with a stark warning: “If you’re in this country illegally, do yourself a favor, go home. We’ll buy you the plane ticket. Get out of the country and you’ll have a chance to come back legally.”
What Comes Next
The Super Bowl LX halftime show is scheduled for February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. While fans eagerly anticipate Bad Bunny’s performance, the political storm around immigration, culture, and entertainment is certain to dominate headlines leading up to the game.
