Turning Point USA, the conservative organization founded by the late Charlie Kirk, announced it will host its own Super Bowl halftime show to rival the one headlined by Puerto Rican star Bad Bunny.
“It’s true, Turning Point USA is thrilled to announce The All American Halftime Show,” the organization posted Thursday on X. “Performers and event details coming soon.”
It will take place on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 8.
TPUSA said the show will be “celebrating faith, family and freedom” and wants people’s input about what kind of music they want to hear, whether country, worship, hip-hop, pop, rock, Americana or “anything in English.”
Fans have been debating the NFL’s choice of Bad Bunny for the Super Bowl halftime extravaganza. He has been an outspoken critic of President Trump’s immigration policy and said he’s skipping U.S. stops on his upcoming world tour over fear that fans could be deported outside his shows.
“There were many reasons why I didn’t show up in the U.S., and none of them were out of hate. … Latinos and Puerto Ricans of the United States could also travel here, or to any part of the world. But there was the issue of — like … ICE could be outside. And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about,” the singer, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, told i-D magazine last month.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Immigration and Customs Enforcement will be “all over” the Super Bowl.
Homeland Security adviser Corey Lewandowski also said agents will be present at the NFL title game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
“There is nowhere that you can provide safe haven to people in this country illegally. Not the Super Bowl and nowhere else. We will find you. We will apprehend you. We will put you in a detention facility, and we will deport you,” Mr. Lewandowski said in an appearance on “The Benny Show” hosted by conservative content creator Benny Johnson.
However, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said earlier this month there are “no tangible plans” for ICE to be at the event.
President Trump, in an interview this week, said he’s “never heard of” the Latin superstar.
“I don’t know who he is. I don’t why they’re doing it. It’s like crazy,” he said. “And then they blame it on some promoter that they hired to pick up entertainment. I think it’s absolutely ridiculous!”
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.
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