The Puerto Rican Superstar Claps Back to Kristi Noem's ICE Warnings Ahead of Super Bowl Halftime Show
In his first speech as emcee of the first episode of SNL, the popular artist responded to controversial comments made by Trump administration official Kristi Noem regarding his scheduled Super Bowl halftime performance.
The 31-year-old Latin music icon joked that "everyone" was excited about his planned show, "even Fox News."
“It’s good to be back. This is my second time hosting and my fourth time being here,” he said. “I’ll be performing at the Super Bowl halftime. I’m thrilled, and I believe everyone else is too.”
A quick montage came after featuring Fox News contributors seeming to endorse Bad Bunny for the presidency.
A Message for the Latino Community
In his monologue, the musician switched to Spanish to speak to "Latinos everywhere across the globe and here in the U.S.."
He stated that being chosen for the halftime show was not just a personal achievement but an accomplishment for all people, showing that their impact in the U.S. cannot be erased.
Afterwards, switching to English, he added, "For those who didn’t catch that, you’ve got a few months to pick up some Spanish."
Political Criticism and Noem's Comments
News of Bad Bunny’s halftime show sparked outrage among some conservatives, including the Homeland Security Secretary.
During a podcast appearance, she warned that just U.S. citizens should attend the 2026 Super Bowl and threatened that immigration officers "would be present throughout" the event.
She also claimed the NFL would "not be able to sleep at night" for selecting Bad Bunny.
U.S. Exclusion and Live Shows
Previously, Bad Bunny explained that fears of immigration enforcement at his concerts led to him leaving out the United States from his upcoming global tour.
He just wrapped a three-month concert series in his home territory, which allegedly attracted hundreds of thousands of attendees.
"My residence was beautiful, everyone loved it," he noted during his SNL monologue.
SNL Sketches and Topical Humor
In other sketches of the season opener, comedian a regular impersonated former Fox News host Pete Hegseth.
That segment included a tirade about the U.S. military, mockingly echoing the host’s prior statements about diversity and body-shaming within the troops.
Also, actor James Austin Johnson made a short cameo as a "self-appointed monitor" of the show, saying he was there to make sure "they don’t say anything too mean about me."
