How 'washed up' Kid Rock exposed MAGA’s failed 'bid for relevance'

On Sunday, February 8, Kid Rock headlined Turning Point USA's All-American Super Bowl Halftime Show — a MAGA alternative to the actual 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show, which featured Puerto Rican reggaetón star Bad Bunny. MAGA Republicans were furious because Bunny, an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump's immigration policies, performed en español at the event. But Bunny attracted a lot more viewers: CBS News reported that 135 million people watched Bad Bunny, while the El Paso Times reported that that 6.1 million people watched Turning Point's event.

In other words, Bad Bunny attracted roughly 22 times as many viewers.

In a biting article published on February 9, Salon's Amanda Marcotte describes Kid Rock's Turning Point USA show as a sad example of MAGA's "bid for cultural relevance."

"Perhaps it's a sign that I am an empathy-poisoned liberal," Marcotte argues, "but it was hard to choke back the pity watching the alternative halftime show aired by Turning Point USA during Sunday's Super Bowl game. Despite having months to book and organize an event that was supposed to draw millions away from the real deal, TPUSA couldn't even pack the small space for audience members on the soundstage — not a stadium, arena, theater or even a club — they rented for the occasion. The promise of seeing the washed-up Kid Rock in an intimate setting appears to thrill no one."

Marcotte continues, "Organizers declared that huge numbers of Americans would prefer this to the actual halftime show, but the anemic audience present for the taping suggested they couldn't get anyone who isn't a paid TPUSA staff member…. Unfortunately for them, the live chat on YouTube suggested the fans weren't tuning in for the music, but out of a sense of duty to their MAGA tribe. Commenters referenced Jesus, TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk, the American flag and hating Bad Bunny — but no one seemed to have much to say about the music or the performances."

The Salon journalist argues that while Rock's TPUSA performance was "boring," Bunny's "electric performance" was "sheer joy — a celebration of Latino culture and American values."

"TPUSA's night was doomed from the get-go," Marcotte writes. "Beyond snagging Kid Rock as a last-minute salvation, the show had no marketing aside from 'Watch this to trigger the liberals'…. In the end, Kid Rock wasn't really the star of the 'All-American Halftime Show.' No, it was the ghost of Charlie Kirk…. No doubt it was good at getting their aging audience to open up their wallets, after asking their grandkids how to use the 'superchat' donate function on YouTube. But as a bid for cultural relevance — well, let's just say Bad Bunny has nothing to worry about."