US Politics
Turning Point halftime show latest: Kid Rock’s MAGA counter-programming set finally begins after being pulled from X
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Turning Point USA’s “All-American” Super Bowl halftime show ran long and ended with a montage to slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The show — which streamed live during Bad Bunny’s official half-time show at Levi’s Stadium in California — featured performances from Kid Rock and three other country musicians: Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice and Gabby Barrett.
After garnering about 4.5 million views, the production came to a close after the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks resumed the game.
Turning Point USA, founded by Kirk, announced its alternative halftime show last October amid mounting conservative criticism over the selection of Bad Bunny, a Puerto Rican rapper, as the Super Bowl halftime performer.
The White House expressed support for TPUSA’s show, reposting a video of it on social media. And Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth wrote on X that his family had tuned in.
President Trump also bashed the official Super Bowl mid-game show in a post on Truth Social, labeling it “absolutely terrible” and “one of the worst, EVER!”
But, despite harsh criticism from Trump and his allies, more Americans were interested in watching Bad Bunny perform in Sunday’s Super Bowl halftime show than Turning Point USA’s MAGA fest.
A YouGov America survey released Friday found that 35 percent of respondents prefer Bad Bunny’s show compared to 28 percent who said they were more interested in the Kid Rock-headlined event.
Gavin Newsom trolled Kid Rock after TPUSA pulled his halftime show from X
California Governor Gavin Newsom trolled Kid Rock after Turning Point USA announced that its “All-American” Super Bowl halftime show would not be streamed on X.
“Even Elon doesn’t want to listen to Kid Rock!” Newsom wrote on X, referencing Elon Musk, who owns the platform.
The governor’s post was in response to TPUSA’s announcement — made just minutes before kickoff — that its alternate halftime show would not be released on X “due to licensing restrictions.”
Brendan Rascius9 February 2026 04:50
Pollster says TPUSA halftime show drew ‘significant’ number of viewers
Frank Luntz, a veteran political consultant and pollster, said that Turning Point USA’s halftime show drew a sizable number of viewers.
“More than 5 million people tuned into the YouTube live stream for @TPUSA’s All-American Halftime Show,” Luntz wrote on X on Sunday evening. “Regardless of how you feel about politics or music, that’s a significant number for a YouTube event.”
Brendan Rascius9 February 2026 04:45
Bad Bunny review, Super Bowl 2026 halftime show: This wild, inclusive fiesta was an inherently political stand
In six minutes flat, Puerto Rico itself emigrates to the sour heart of America. As the number-based fighting of Super Bowl LX stops and the ICE agents start scanning the stands, an entire Salinas sugar cane field grows out of the grass of Santa Clara’s Levi’s Stadium, populated by coconut sellers, dice players, boxers and twerkers. And one man in white wandering through this colourful maelstrom on a mission to show the world the vivacious worth of his people.
Mark Beaumont offers his review…
Brendan Rascius9 February 2026 04:15
Democrats poke fun at Trump’s halftime response, hinting that he appeared to tune in to Bad Bunny’s show
Democrats poked fun at President Donald Trump’s post about the Super Bowl halftime show, noting that he appeared to watch Bad Bunny’s performance rather than Kid Rock’s gig at TPUSA’s alternate halftime show.
Shortly after Bad Bunny – a popular Puerto Rican rapper — took the stage at Levi’s Stadium in California, Trump fired off a lengthy post on Truth Social.
“The Super Bowl Halftime Show is absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER!” the 79-year-old Republican president wrote. “It makes no sense, is an affront to the Greatness of America, and doesn’t represent our standards of Success, Creativity, or Excellence.”
“Nobody understands a word this guy is saying,” he added.
The Democratic Party’s official X account shared Trump’s post, writing, “Guess he wasn’t watching Kid Rock then.”
Brendan Rascius9 February 2026 03:50
House Speaker Mike Johnson weighs in on Kid Rock’s halftime show
House Speaker Mike Johnson has weighed in on TPUSA’s alternate halftime show, which featured Kid Rock and several country musicians.
“The best moments in broadcast so far this year?” the Republican lawmaker wrote on X. “Jelly Roll at the Grammys & Kid Rock at the @TPUSA’s All-American Halftime Show!”
Brendan Rascius9 February 2026 03:35
Social media users pan TPUSA’s halftime show as ‘small and unimpressive’
A number of social media users panned Turning Point USA’s Super Bowl halftime show, with some describing it as wholly unremarkable.
The performance — headlined by Kid Rock and streamed live on YouTube — was staged in opposition to the official halftime show at Levi’s Stadium by Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny. It garnered upwards of four million views.
One X user derided it as “small and unimpressive,” while another went further, calling it “a complete disaster.”
Others questioned the artistic choices made during the 30-minute production.
“5 million people protesting the super bowl halftime show just to watch turning point usa bring out mfs playing the violin,” wrote one X user, referencing the moment a violin was played while Kid Rock was on stage.
Another social media user questioned whether Kid Rock was lip-syncing.
“If TPUSA was smart they should’ve just gotten Nicki Minaj,” wrote one left-leaning commentator.
However, a number of commenters expressed support for the show.
“The All American Halftime Show Was FAR Better Than The Anti-American Trash The NFL Sponsored,” an X user wrote. Kid Rock And Others Crushed It. We are Charlie Now.”
Brendan Rascius9 February 2026 03:13
IN PHOTOS: See performers take the stage at Turning Point USA’s halftime show
The show, which was streamed online on Sunday evening, featured performances from Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert, Gabby Barrett and Lee Brice.
Brendan Rascius9 February 2026 02:55
Megyn Kelly says she’s ‘in tears’ over Kid Rock’s halftime show
Right-wing podcaster Megyn Kelly said she was “in tears” over Turning Point USA’s Super Bowl halftime show, which was headlined by Kid Rock.
“Congratulations @TPUSA, I am in tears at that BEAUTIFUL half time show,” the host of The Megyn Kelly Show wrote on X on Sunday evening. “Everyone did a spectacular job – it was perfect. THANK YOU!”
Brendan Rascius9 February 2026 02:38
Republicans applaud TPUSA’s ‘All-American’ halftime show
A number of Republican lawmakers praised Turning Point USA’s “All-American” halftime show — which garnered some four million views on YouTube.
“GOD BLESS AMERICA!” Rep. Brian Mast of Florida wrote on X. “Thank you @TPUSA for the best half-time show ever!”
Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona reposted footage of the show — which was staged in protest of Bad Bunny’s official halftime performance at Levi’s Stadium. He wrote: “Americans have had enough of woke garbage pushed by the Left. We’re celebrating what makes America great.”
Rep. Mike Collins of Georgia added that “the real halftime show isn’t at Levi’s Stadium.”
Brendan Rascius9 February 2026 02:30
White House shares video of TPUSA halftime show, and Hegseth says he tuned in
The White House has reposted a video of Turning Point USA’s halftime show, which featured Kid Rock and three other country musicians.
A number of other Trump administration officials have expressed support for the performance.
Shortly after the livestream began, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth wrote on X: “The Hegseth family is watching.”
Brendan Rascius9 February 2026 01:58
