Feb. 8, 2026, 7:02 a.m. ET
The New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks are ready, and Santa Clara, California, is set for Super Bowl 60, but one character will be missing.
President Donald Trump attended the 2025 Super Bowl in New Orleans between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles, but is skipping this year’s game. In an interview with the New York Post in January, Trump said his decision to skip the game was a distance problem.
“It’s just too far away. I would. I’ve (gotten) great hands (at) the Super Bowl. They like me,” Trump told the outlet.
Instead, Trump will sit down for an interview with NBC News’ Tom Llamas on Wednesday, Feb. 4, with a portion of the interview set to air during the network’s Super Bowl pregame show on Sunday, Feb. 8.
Here is what you need to know.
Trump and the halftime show
Despite Trump’s non-attendance at the Super Bowl, the president has loudly criticized this year’s halftime show performer, Bad Bunny.
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.
In the same interview with the New York Post, Trump called him a “terrible choice” for a halftime show, while conservative group Turning Point USA announced an alternative halftime show featuring Kid Rock and others.
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.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
