🔗 Share this article

In his first speech as host of the first episode of SNL, Bad Bunny addressed recent statements made by Trump administration official Kristi Noem regarding his upcoming 2026 Super Bowl show.

The 31-year-old Latin music icon joked that "everyone" was pleased about his planned show, "even Fox News."

“Happy to return. I’ve hosted twice now and appeared four times,” he said. “I’ll be performing at the Super Bowl halftime. I’m thrilled, and I believe everyone else is too.”

A short video clip came after featuring commentators from the network seeming to support the artist for the presidency.

An Important Statement for Latinos

In his opening remarks, the musician switched to Spanish to address "Latinos everywhere across the globe and here in the U.S.."

He stated that his Super Bowl selection was not just a individual success but a win for all people, showing that the Latino contribution to this country cannot be removed.

Afterwards, switching to English, he remarked, "For those who didn’t catch that, you’ve got a few months to pick up some Spanish."

Conservative Backlash and Noem's Comments

News of Bad Bunny’s halftime show sparked anger among some conservatives, particularly from Kristi Noem.

On a recent podcast, Noem stated that only Americans ought to go to the upcoming game and threatened that immigration officers "will be all over" the stadium.

She also claimed the league would "not be able to sleep at night" for choosing the performer.

U.S. Exclusion and Live Shows

Earlier, the singer explained that fears of immigration enforcement at his concerts led to him leaving out the U.S. from his upcoming global tour.

Recently concluding a three-month performance run in San Juan, Puerto Rico, which allegedly attracted hundreds of thousands of fans.

"My residence was beautiful, everyone loved it," he said during his opening speech.

SNL Sketches and Political Satire

During additional segments of the season opener, comedian a regular impersonated former Fox News host Pete Hegseth.

The sketch included a rant about the armed forces, mockingly referencing the host’s prior statements about inclusion and body-shaming within the troops.

Also, Trump impersonator James Austin Johnson appeared briefly as a "self-appointed monitor" of the program, claiming he was there to ensure "SNL doesn’t cross the line with jokes about me."