President Donald Trump has announced he will not be attending this year’s Super Bowl and has expressed strong disapproval ahead of the event.
The Super Bowl stands as the most-watched television spectacle annually in the United States, with this year’s edition scheduled to take place at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. However, Trump has indicated he will not be present at the game.
While explaining his decision to skip the event, the 79-year-old President seized the moment to voice his disdain for the entertainment lineup planned for the occasion.
This year’s performers include Green Day as the opening act, with Bad Bunny set to headline the halftime show.
Both Green Day and Bad Bunny have been vocal critics of Trump’s policies and administration since his tenure began last year.
Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has often spoken out on issues like immigration.
He has previously responded to the backlash regarding his headlining of the halftime show and has criticized ICE raids.
Last year, the Puerto Rican musician released a song titled ‘Nuevayol’, which features an imitation of Trump ‘apologizing’ to immigrants: “I want to apologize to the immigrants in America… This country is nothing without the immigrants. This country is nothing without Mexicans, Dominicans, Puerto Ricans, Colombians, Venezuelans, Cubans.”
Green Day has also been outspoken in their opposition to Trump.
The band has a history of critiquing US politics, notably with their 2004 concept album American Idiot, which narrates the experiences of a disillusioned adolescent in the US post-911 and the Iraq War.
The band has also modified the lyrics of their classic song ‘American Idiot’ from “I’m not a part of a redneck agenda” to “I’m not a part of a MAGA agenda.”
In July, lead singer Billy Joel Armstrong led a crowd chant at Download Festival in the UK, labeling Trump a ‘fat b****rd’. He also described the Trump administration as ‘a fascist government’, warning that ‘we are slipping into fascism’.
“And it’s up to us to fight back,” he remarked.
During an interview, Trump criticized the lineup as a ‘terrible choice’, stating: “I’m anti-them. I think it’s a terrible choice. All it does is sow hatred. Terrible.”
However, he clarified that his decision not to attend is not solely based on his disapproval of the performers.
“It’s just too far away,” he commented. “I would. I’ve gotten great hands for the Super Bowl, they like me. I would go if, you know, it was a little bit shorter.”
Armstrong has previously shared the band’s enthusiasm for performing at the high-profile event, saying in a statement: “We are super hyped to open Super Bowl 60 right in our backyard!”
“We are honored to welcome the MVPs who’ve shaped the game and open the night for fans all over the world. Let’s have fun! Let’s get loud!”
Meanwhile, Bad Bunny has released a trailer to build anticipation for the event, featuring the artist dancing in Puerto Rico to his track ‘BAILE INoLVIDABLE’, which PEOPLE reports translates to ‘Unforgettable Dance’.