US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he will no longer attend the NFL final, the Super Bowl, scheduled for 8 February 2026 at Levi's Stadium in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The announcement came days after he criticised the event's halftime performers and cited travel concerns, triggering an urgent online reaction that suggested a different reason. Many critics and netizens believe Trump is avoiding the game to escape the risk of being booed again, following hostile receptions at past NFL events. The debate has placed Trump's absence under sharp public scrutiny.
Trump's Own Reasons for Skipping NFL Final
Trump made his position clear during an interview conducted in the Oval Office. He said the decision was driven by distance and dissatisfaction with the halftime show. This year's performers include Bad Bunny and Green Day, both of whom have publicly opposed Trump and his policies.
The president was blunt in his assessment of the artists. He described the line-up as divisive and said he was 'anti-them', adding that it was a 'terrible choice' that 'sow[s] hatred'. Despite that criticism, Trump insisted the performers were not the deciding factor.
Instead, he emphasised the length of the journey from Washington to California. Trump said the venue was simply too far away and claimed he would attend if the event were closer. He also argued that he had previously received a warm reception at the Super Bowl and maintained that fans 'like me.'
Trump had earlier dismissed Bad Bunny's selection in a separate media appearance, saying he had never heard of the singer and calling the choice 'ridiculous.' The NFL final will be staged in San Francisco, a city where Trump does not own any affiliated properties, a detail that has previously influenced his travel decisions.
Critics Think He's Only Afraid To Get Booed, Again
Trump's explanation failed to convince many observers. Social media platforms quickly filled with sceptical reactions questioning his account. Numerous users argued that distance has not stopped Trump from travelling extensively during his second term, including overseas trips.
Several critics said the real concern was public reaction inside the stadium. Online comments widely predicted loud booing if Trump appeared on screen. Others pointed to California's political climate, suggesting the president would face a particularly hostile crowd in the Bay Area.
The real reason is that he doesn’t want to get booed again on national television in front of millions of people https://t.co/43EX5O0KqD
— davey (@jerseyh0mo) January 25, 2026
Some posts mocked Trump's criticism of the performers, while others framed his decision as an attempt to avoid embarrassment. A number of users also raised security concerns, suggesting large crowds in a politically unfriendly region could pose challenges for his protective detail.
While the reactions varied in tone, the central theme remained consistent. Many critics believe Trump's absence is less about music or travel and more about avoiding a repeat of previous public jeering.
Trump Already Got Booed in an NFL Game
Those claims are rooted in recent history. In November 2025, Trump attended a regular-season NFL game between the Detroit Lions and the Washington Commanders. He became the first sitting US president in nearly 50 years to attend such a fixture.
During that appearance, Trump was booed by large sections of the crowd when shown on stadium screens and again during a halftime introduction. The reaction occurred in an area with strong Democratic support and followed government cuts that affected local workers.
The jeering continued during an on-field military ceremony. Trump arrived after the game had already started and left early, before the final whistle, as the Commanders suffered a heavy defeat. While there were scattered cheers, the overall response was mixed to hostile.
