NEW ORLEANS — In the wake of an electric Super Bowl LIX halftime performance by Kendrick Lamar, President Donald Trump has reportedly voiced strong disapproval, calling the NFL’s selection of the Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper a “ridiculous” and politically motivated decision. Trump, who became the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl in person, was reportedly displeased by the overt symbolism integrated into the 13-minute set.
The performance, which featured Samuel L. Jackson as a cynical “Uncle Sam” and an all-Black dance troupe forming a human American flag, was widely interpreted as a critique of the current political climate. Trump’s criticism, largely shared through social media and relayed by insiders, centered on the idea that the NFL and Apple Music chose Lamar over New Orleans native Lil Wayne to send a “subliminal message” to his administration.
“It was a ridiculous decision,” Trump reportedly stated, echoing sentiments shared by several of his political allies. “You have one of the greatest performers in history, Lil Wayne, right there in his hometown, and they pass him over for something that felt like a political rally. People want to watch football and a great show, not a lecture.”
The tension was exacerbated by the specific choreography and lyrical choices made during the broadcast. Lamar opened with a line from Gil Scott-Heron—”The revolution is about to be televised; You picked the right time but the wrong guy”—which many viewers interpreted as a direct jab at Trump’s presence in the stadium. Furthermore, the decision by the NFL to remove “End Racism” stencils from the end zones prior to the game, reportedly to maintain a neutral environment for the president, was undermined by the performance’s focus on Black resistance and systemic critique.
Political commentators on both sides of the aisle have noted the irony of the situation. While the league sought to avoid controversy by scrubbing political slogans from the field, the halftime show provided a global platform for a message that many in the MAGA movement labeled “DEI-driven” and “Satanic.”
The fallout from the “ridiculous” decision has prompted the NFL to consider internal changes. Reports suggest the league may issue a formal apology to Lil Wayne and adjust its selection process for future Super Bowls to prioritize local cultural ties over national artistic trends. For Trump, the event serves as a new flashpoint in his ongoing critique of the “woke” direction of professional sports and entertainment.
As the 2026 offseason begins, the debate over Lamar’s performance remains a central theme in the intersection of sports and politics, with Trump’s vocal opposition setting the stage for a contentious relationship between the White House and the NFL in the years to come.
