Bad Bunny, the renowned reggaeton musician, is extending his support to Vice President Kamala Harris by posting a video of her message on his Instagram account, which boasts over 45 million followers. This endorsement could prove significant for Harris’s presidential campaign, especially as it aims to enhance its appeal among Latino and Puerto Rican voters, a demographic that former President Trump has been attempting to sway in recent times.
Born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, the 30-year-old artist has made a remarkable impact in the music industry with popular hits like “Dakiti” and “Titi Me Preguntó.” He has garnered three Grammy Awards and was the most-streamed artist on Spotify for the years 2020, 2021, and 2022, only falling behind Taylor Swift in 2023. Apple Music recognized him as the Artist of the Year in 2022.
In the clip shared by Bad Bunny, Harris emphasizes the critical nature of the upcoming election, particularly for Puerto Rican voters and the island itself. A spokesperson for the artist confirmed his support for Harris’s candidacy. He has also highlighted another segment of the video where Harris criticizes Trump’s response to Puerto Rico’s needs, stating, “I will never forget what Donald Trump did and what he did not do when Puerto Rico needed a caring and a competent leader.”
The endorsement from Bad Bunny followed controversial remarks made by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe at Trump’s recent rally at Madison Square Garden, where he disparaged Puerto Rico, calling it a “floating island of garbage.” Such statements were met with backlash from Harris’s campaign team.
In the politically charged environment of swing state Pennsylvania, which has a significant Puerto Rican population, Bad Bunny’s backing could resonate well. The artist has been outspoken about issues affecting Puerto Rico, particularly concerning its electricity infrastructure, which suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Maria. In a music video for his song “El Apagon,” he criticized Luma Energy, the company responsible for power distribution, for the frequent outages that the island faces.
One of Bad Bunny’s latest tracks, “Una Velita,” serves as a protest against the government’s handling of the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in 2017. The devastating storm is estimated to have caused nearly 3,000 fatalities due to its effects, a figure that Trump has controversially downplayed, suggesting that the toll “rose like magic.” His visit to Puerto Rico post-hurricane also stirred controversy, particularly when he tossed rolls of paper towels to hurricane survivors. Although his administration eventually released $13 billion in assistance, this aid came years later and just weeks ahead of the 2020 election. Additionally, a federal watchdog found that officials obstructed an investigation into delays in providing this aid.
Bad Bunny has drawn attention to Trump’s failures to assist Puerto Rico, sharing clips where Harris condemns him for “abandoning the island” and trying to “block aid after back-to-back devastating hurricanes,” offering “nothing more than paper towels and insults.” In 2020, he had previously permitted the Biden campaign to feature his song “Pero Ya No” in a television advertisement, further showcasing his involvement in the political landscape.