SM. Musician Lara Trump Chose To Perform at TPUSA Halftime Show Speaks Out

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By Megan Cartwright

Deputy Entertainment Editor22Share

Musician Tom MacDonald has responded on social media to Lara Trump’s suggestion that he should perform at Turning Point USA’s version of the Super Bowl halftime show.

Newsweek reached out to MacDonald and Trump’s representatives via email for comment on Friday.

Why It Matters

The conservative activist group, also known as TPUSA—led by co-founder Charlie Kirk until his death—announced it would host its own halftime show, or “All American Halftime Show,” in February 2026, following discontent over the NFL’s decision to feature Bad Bunny as the Super Bowl LX halftime headliner. The event intends to create a conservative alternative for viewers dissatisfied with the football league’s direction.

In the past, Puerto Rican star Bad Bunny has criticized President Donald Trump and said he doesn’t tour in the United States over fears that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will raid his concerts.

Co-chair of the Republican National Committee, Lara Trump, speaks during the second day of the 2024 Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum…Read More | JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images

What To Know

On Thursday’s episode of Lara Trump’s podcast, The Right View with Lara Trump, the 43-year-old described hypothetical artists she’d like to see perform at TPUSA’s show, including country musician Chris Stapleton and MAGA-affiliated rapper Tom MacDonald.

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“When Bad Bunny was announced as the Super Bowl halftime performer…. I can tell you there a lot of people who are not happy about it. And so Turning Point was like, ‘You know what? We’re gonna do our own thing. We’ll have our own halftime show. We don’t need Bad Bunny or any of these people,'” she said.

While thinking about who she would like to see perform, Donald Trump’s daughter-in-law, said: “Tom MacDonald, 100 percent. I think I talked about him the last time we did a Q&A episode…I said I’d like to perform on stage with him, do a little karaoke sesh, absolutely. I think he’s awesome, I would love to see that happen.”

In response, MacDonald posted a video to his social media accounts.

“Lara Trump thinks I’d be a good alternative to Bad Bunny and I should play the Turning Point USA halftime show for the Super Bowl,” the Canadian rapper, known for his right-wing lyrics, said. “What do you guys think? Let me know. Let’s make this happen.”

At the time of publication, the video racked up more than 850,000 views and over 54,000 likes on X and garnered an additional 390,000 views on Instagram and over 50,000 likes.

Lara Trump then offered up her own name for the show, saying: “You know what? You can throw Lara Trump in there. Yeah! That’s right.“

“Imagine how upset people on the left would be if something like that happened,” Eric Trump’s wife continued. “It sort of makes me want to offer myself up. I have not been asked, but I’m gonna offer it right now. So let’s see what happens.”

Lara Trump, who has released several singles including “Hero,” “Colors Don’t Run” and a cover of Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down,” has over 11,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. Her music career has previously drawn mixed reactions, and her 2023 “I Won’t Back Down” cover was widely criticized. In 2020, Petty’s estate sent a cease-and-desist letter to Donald Trump for using the original hit song at a rally.

“Trump was in no way authorized to use this song to further a campaign that leaves too many Americans and common sense behind,” Petty’s family wrote on X at the time.

What People Are Saying

The NFL’s Bad Bunny Super Bowl announcement has been met with both praise from many celebrities and backlash from MAGA-aligned figures.

Jennifer Lopez told CBS Mornings host Gayle King: “Music and art transcends language. It doesn’t matter. And he’s done that probably more than anybody of any generation…. It’s a big platform for artists. It’s probably the biggest stage that you could hope to be on, and I think it’s wonderful that people will get exposed to him who don’t know him.”

The View co-host Sunny Hostin said on the show: “There are people online that are like, ‘Why couldn’t they have chosen an American?’ Oh, they did, though…He is truly an artist activist, and we haven’t seen that for quite some time, I think, and this is the time for that.”

President Donald Trump said in an interview with Newsmax: “I never heard of him. I don’t know who he is, I don’t know why they’re doing it. It’s like, crazy, and then they blame it on some promoter that they hired to pick up entertainment. I think it’s absolutely ridiculous.”

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson told a reporter: “I didn’t even know who Bad Bunny was, but it sounds like a terrible decision in my view. Well, it sounds like he’s not someone who appeals to a broader audience. And I think there’s so many eyes on the Super Bowl, a lot of young, impressionable children. And I think, in my view, you would have Lee Greenwood or role models doing that, not somebody like this.”

What Happens Next

The show is slated for February 8, according to a post on Turning Point USA’s X account. As of October 17, the organization has not confirmed its performance lineup.

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