Kristi Noem has been talking about the Super Bowl in the context of immigration enforcement, public safety, and criticizing the NFL’s halftime choice of Bad Bunny for the 2026 game, and her comments have turned into a political flashpoint.

What she actually said

In an interview on Benny Johnson’s podcast, Noem made several headline‑grabbing claims about the upcoming Super Bowl and who should attend.

Key quotes attributed to her include:

  • She said Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will be “all over that place” at the Super Bowl, referring to a heavy immigration‑enforcement presence at the event.
  • She framed it as a law‑and‑order issue, saying she has a responsibility to make sure everyone who goes to the Super Bowl can enjoy it and leave safely, and that people should not come “unless they’re law‑abiding Americans who love this country.”
  • She sharply criticized the NFL for choosing Bad Bunny as the 2026 halftime performer, calling the league “so weak,” saying “they suck, and we’ll win,” and claiming the NFL “won’t be able to sleep at night because they don’t know what they believe” and that “we’ll fix it.”

These remarks link game‑day security and immigration enforcement with a broader culture‑war critique of the league and its entertainment choices.

Why Bad Bunny and ICE are part of this

The comments didn’t come out of nowhere; they tie into earlier arguments about Bad Bunny and immigration.

  • Bad Bunny, a Puerto Rican artist and major global star, had previously said he would not perform in the U.S. on an upcoming tour because of fears about ICE raids at shows.
  • In the podcast conversation, Johnson framed the NFL’s decision to pick Bad Bunny for the 2026 halftime show as a message aimed at Donald Trump, setting up a political angle to the entertainment choice.
  • Noem picked up that framing, saying essentially that the NFL “sucks,” is “weak,” and that her side will “win” and “fix it,” while promising aggressive enforcement activity at the event.

So when people online ask “what did Kristi Noem say about the Super Bowl,” they’re usually referring to this cluster of comments about ICE being “all over” the stadium, only “law‑abiding Americans” belonging there, and the NFL being “weak” for choosing Bad Bunny.

How people are reacting (forums & news)

Discussion threads and coverage show a sharp split in how these remarks are landing.

  • On political and general‑news forums, users critical of Noem see the comments as:
    • A scare tactic aimed at immigrants and mixed‑status families who might want to attend the game.
* An unnecessary politicization of a sports and entertainment event, especially given Bad Bunny’s popularity.
  • Some conservative‑leaning forum users, meanwhile, frame her stance as:
    • A strong pro‑enforcement and national‑security message, emphasizing that laws should be enforced equally, including at big cultural events.

One example: a Reddit thread in a conservative space explicitly asks what she “is talking about” regarding the Super Bowl and Bad Bunny, with the original poster saying they find it confusing since halftime shows have always used popular mainstream performers.

Mini FAQ

Why did she say ICE will be “all over” the Super Bowl?
She argued that as Homeland Security chief she must ensure safety at major events and that enforcing immigration laws at the Super Bowl is part of that mission, promising a strong enforcement presence.

What’s her issue with the NFL?
She portrays the league as politically aligned against Trump and “weak” for featuring Bad Bunny, saying the NFL “sucks,” is “so weak,” and that “we’ll fix it” and “we’ll win.”

Why is this trending now?
It combines a huge cultural event (the Super Bowl), a global star (Bad Bunny), and hot‑button topics like immigration enforcement and partisan politics, making it ripe for viral clips, debates, and meme‑ified quotes across social media and forums.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.