A recent Yahoo!/YouGov poll reveals Bad Bunny edging out Donald Trump in public approval following the contentious Super Bowl halftime show, with 42% of Americans favoring the Puerto Rican superstar compared to 39% for the president.
The survey, which included more than 1,700 U.S. adults, tilted slightly conservative in its sample—yet Bad Bunny still came out ahead.
When asked who “better represents America,” Bad Bunny maintained his three-point lead, though 20% remained unsure.
The results suggest Trump’s aggressive criticism of the halftime performance may have backfired, particularly among key demographic groups that could prove crucial in upcoming elections.
Bad Bunny Wins Favorability Contest
Overall opinion of Bad Bunny skewed positive, with 43% expressing favorable views versus 36% unfavorable. Similarly, 44% approved of Bad Bunny as the halftime pick, while 35% disapproved.
Nearly half of respondents—47%—watched the halftime performance. Among those who actually tuned in, approval ratings soared dramatically higher.
Viewers Overwhelmingly Enjoyed the Show
Among Americans who watched Bad Bunny perform, 30% said they liked it, while only 8% disliked it. Another 8% remained neutral.
That’s a nearly 4-to-1 approval ratio among actual viewers—a stark contrast to the political firestorm surrounding the performance.
The Spanish-language aspect of the show, which became a lightning rod for criticism, didn’t bother most viewers either. Among those who watched, 31% approved of Bad Bunny performing entirely in Spanish, compared to just 11% who disapproved.
Final Message Resonates Across Political Spectrum
Bad Bunny’s closing statement proved the most unifying element of his performance. He ended by saying “God bless America” while naming countries throughout North, South, and Central America, backed by a billboard reading: “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.”
A remarkable 60% of all respondents approved of this message, while only 16% disapproved. This question was asked of everyone surveyed, not just those who watched.
Trump’s Harsh Criticism May Backfire
President Trump didn’t hold back his disdain for the performance. Before and after the February 8 show, he unleashed criticism on Truth Social, calling it “a slap in the face to the U.S.” and “an affront to the Greatness of America.”
Nobody understands a word this guy is saying.
Trump also described the dancing as “disgusting,” escalating what some Republican strategists view as an unnecessary culture war battle.
Vianca Rodriguez, former deputy Hispanic communications director for the RNC during the last presidential race, told Reuters this week that Trump’s approach could damage Republican prospects.
It’s going to do us more damage than good. That shouldn’t have been a battle to have been picked culturally.
Rodriguez’s concern centers on crucial House races coming this fall in districts with substantial Latino populations.
Stark Racial Divide in Responses
Breaking down the poll by race reveals significant demographic divisions that should concern political strategists on both sides.
White Respondents Favor Trump
Among white respondents, Bad Bunny was slightly underwater on general approval: 39% favorable versus 41% unfavorable. On the “who better represents America” question, whites chose Trump at 48% compared to 37% for Bad Bunny.
Black Respondents Strongly Support Bad Bunny
Black Americans gave Bad Bunny a crushing approval advantage:
- 57% approval rating versus only 11% disapproval
- 61% said Bad Bunny better represents America compared to just 9% for Trump
Hispanic Respondents Tilt Toward Bad Bunny
Among Hispanic respondents, Bad Bunny maintained solid advantages:
- 51% general approval versus 36% disapproval
- 46% said he better represents America compared to 32% for Trump
These numbers suggest Trump’s attacks may alienate the very voters Republicans need to court in competitive districts.
Record-Breaking Viewership Numbers
Bad Bunny’s performance reached an average of 128.2 million viewers according to Nielsen, making it one of the most-watched halftime shows in Super Bowl history.
Only Kendrick Lamar’s 2024 performance (133.5 million viewers) drew a larger audience. The impressive numbers came despite competition from a pre-taped Turning Point USA show featuring Kid Rock, heavily promoted as a conservative alternative.
Interestingly, 51% of respondents said they watched the Super Bowl overall, meaning approximately 4% of Americans watched the game but specifically tuned out Bad Bunny’s performance.
Survey Methodology and Demographics
The Yahoo!/YouGov poll was conducted February 9-12 among 1,704 adults with a three-point margin of error.
The sample actually leaned conservative:
- Party identification: 33% Republican, 31% Democrat, 28% independent
- Ideology: 33% conservative, 28% liberal, 31% moderate
- Race: 63% white, 16% Hispanic, 13% Black
Bad Bunny’s ability to edge out Trump in a conservative-leaning sample makes the results even more significant for political analysts watching how cultural battles play in swing districts.
As midterm season approaches, the controversy surrounding one halftime show may offer a preview of how attacks on Latino culture and Spanish-language performance could resonate—or backfire—with increasingly diverse American voters.