Why Trump Is Missing Super Bowl 2026: Real Reason & Criticism of Halftime Show Performers.

President Donald Trump has explained his decision to skip Super Bowl 60 (Super Bowl LX) on February 8, 2026, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, primarily citing the distance as the key factor.

In an exclusive interview with the New York Post (published January 24, 2026, and widely reported including by The Athletic, CNN, USA Today, and others), Trump stated:

“It’s just too far away. I would. I’ve (gotten) great hands (at) the Super Bowl. They like me. I would go if, you know, it was a little bit shorter.”

This refers to the roughly 2,800-mile trip from Washington, D.C., to the West Coast venue—despite Trump having traveled extensively in January 2026 (including an 8,000-mile round trip to Switzerland, plus stops in Palm Beach and Detroit, totaling about 10,650 miles). He attended Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans last year, becoming the first sitting president to do so in person, and has frequently appeared at events like UFC fights and the U.S. Open during his second term.

Trump also criticized the entertainment lineup:Halftime headliner Bad Bunny (Puerto Rican superstar and vocal critic of Trump, who endorsed Kamala Harris in 2024 and has expressed concerns about ICE raids).

Pregame opener Green Day (who have mocked Trump and his administration, including altering lyrics in "American Idiot" to reference "MAGA agenda" and leading anti-Trump chants on tour).

“I’m anti-them. I think it’s a terrible choice. All it does is sow hatred. Terrible,” Trump said.

Reports note Bad Bunny's decision to perform despite earlier avoiding U.S. tours over immigration enforcement fears, while Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong has called out Trump and VP JD Vance publicly.

Some fans and commentators (e.g., on social media and in Yahoo Sports coverage) have questioned the "distance" rationale, suggesting potential boos in California (a state Trump did not win in recent elections) or other political factors might play a role, though Trump emphasized the travel logistics and his belief he'd receive strong support if he attended.

No updates since late January indicate any change—Trump is not expected at the game. Super Bowl 60 features the Patriots vs. Seahawks rematch, airing on NBC/Peacock with kickoff at 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT. Halftime is Bad Bunny, and Green Day handles pregame.

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