Feb. 8, 2026, 6:24 p.m. ET
Stars like Cardi B, Jeff Goldblum and Leonardo DiCaprio are among the stars at Super Bowl 60. But one big name is missing: President Donald Trump.
Last year, the president attended the Super Bowl in New Orleans on Feb. 9, 2025, where the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Kansas City Chiefs. But this year, he skipped the game between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks.
In January, Trump told the New York Post that his decision not to attend the game was a distance problem.
“It’s just too far away. I would. I’ve gotten great hands for the Super Bowl, they like me,” Trump told the outlet. “I would go if, you know, it was a little bit shorter.”
The Super Bowl this year is at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, the home of the San Francisco 49ers.
Instead, Trump sent the players his best wishes.
“This Super Bowl Sunday, I send my best wishes to the athletes and coaches of the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks as they take the field and to the millions of Americans gathering across the country to watch these two storied franchises compete on one of the grandest and most legendary stages in all of sports,” Trump said in a presidential message on Feb. 8. “Tonight’s game is more than just a championship—it’s a uniquely American tradition that reflects the distinct passion and perseverance of our country.”
Trump and the halftime show
While Trump was not planning to attend the Super Bowl, that didn’t stop him from criticizing Bad Bunny, this year’s halftime show performer.
In the same interview with the New York Post, Trump called him a “terrible choice” for a halftime show. Conservative group Turning Point USA announced an alternative halftime show featuring Kid Rock and others.
Bad Bunny blasted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during his win for Best Música Urbana Album at the 68th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 1.
“Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say, ICE out,” the Puerto Rican singer said.
A longtime critic of the Trump administration, Bad Bunny faced intense backlash from both the president and conservatives following the announcement of his performance at the Super Bowl.
On Thursday, Feb. 5, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that the White House expects Trump to change the channel in the middle of the Super Bowl to watch Kid Rock instead of Bad Bunny.
“I think the president would much prefer a Kid Rock performance over Bad Bunny, I must say that,” Leavitt said.
Robert Kraft and Donald Trump
Trump is a longtime friend of Patriots owner Robert Kraft, with their relationship dating back to the 1990s when Kraft first purchased the team.
Trump praised the New England Patriots and owner Robert Kraft in a Jan. 28 interview on Fox News’s Will Cain Show.
“Bob Kraft is a friend of mine. I’ve watched that team. You’ve got to hand it to him. He had the great team. Now he’s got the great team again. They made a fantastic draft pick, the quarterback is great,” Trump said when asked about the Super Bowl. “I think it’s going to be a tremendous game.”
