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However, the very elements that earned the show critical acclaim—the Spanish-language lyrics and the specific cultural motifs—became the primary targets of an aggressive critique. As the performance concluded, Donald Trump took to Truth Social to deliver a blistering, multi-paragraph rebuke that signaled his total rejection of the NFL’s creative direction. Trump, who notably declined to attend the game in person, citing that the trip to California was “too far,” did not let the distance mute his displeasure. His rhetoric was sharp and unfiltered, labeling the production “absolutely terrible” and “one of the worst ever.” In a series of ruthless assertions, he characterized the show as an “affront to the greatness of America,” specifically arguing that it failed to meet his prescribed standards of “Success, Creativity, or Excellence.”
A significant portion of the critique focused on the linguistic and aesthetic choices of the performance. Trump argued that “nobody understands a word” being said, a sentiment echoed by a subset of viewers who felt the lack of English lyrics made the show inaccessible. He further disparaged the choreography, describing the dancing as “disgusting” and inappropriate for children. Beyond the artistic critique, Trump leveraged the moment to pivot toward his familiar economic and political narratives. He framed the halftime show as a “slap in the face” to a country he claimed was setting records in the stock market and retirement savings, contrasting the “mess” on the screen with the perceived “Real World” prosperity of his supporters. The rant even veered back to the sport itself, with an added demand that the NFL replace its controversial new kickoff rules, punctuated by his signature “Make America Great Again” call to action.
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