The Puerto Rican Superstar Claps Back to Kristi Noem's Immigration Warnings Ahead of Super Bowl Performance
During his opening monologue as emcee of the season premiere of SNL, Bad Bunny responded to recent statements made by Trump administration official Kristi Noem regarding his scheduled 2026 Super Bowl show.
The 31-year-old Latin music icon quipped that "all people" was excited about his scheduled show, "even Fox News."
“Happy to return. I’ve hosted twice now and appeared four times,” he said. “I’ll be performing at the Super Bowl halftime. I’m thrilled, and I believe everyone else is too.”
A quick montage followed showing commentators from the network appearing to endorse Bad Bunny for the presidency.
A Message for Latinos
During his opening remarks, Bad Bunny switched to Spanish to address "all the Latinos and Latinas in the entire world and here in the United States."
He stated that being chosen for the halftime show was not just a individual success but a win for all people, showing that their impact in the U.S. will never be erased.
Then, switching to English, he added, "If you didn’t understand what I just said, you have four months to learn."
Political Criticism and Official Warnings
The announcement of Bad Bunny’s halftime show sparked anger among right-wing commentators, including the Homeland Security Secretary.
On a recent podcast, she warned that just U.S. citizens ought to go to the 2026 Super Bowl and threatened that immigration officers "will be all over" the event.
She also claimed the league would "not be able to sleep at night" for choosing the performer.
Tour Omission and Recent Success
Previously, Bad Bunny revealed that fears of immigration enforcement at his live events resulted in him excluding the U.S. from his upcoming global tour.
Recently concluding a lengthy concert series in his home territory, which reportedly 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 premiere episode, cast member a regular impersonated commentator Pete Hegseth.
The sketch included a tirade about the U.S. military, sarcastically echoing the host’s prior statements about inclusion and body-shaming within the military.
Additionally, Trump impersonator James Austin Johnson made a short cameo as a "self-appointed monitor" of the show, saying he was there to make sure "SNL doesn’t cross the line with jokes about me."
