Bad Bunny’s latest world tour skips the U.S. – and fans are asking why.
When global superstar Bad Bunny announced the dates for his DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS World Tour, one omission sparked widespread curiosity:
The United States.
As fans across the country scanned the list, they found no mention of cities like New York, Miami, or Los Angeles – locations that had been staples of his previous tours.
Instead, the Puerto Rican icon is focusing his main efforts on another project – a 30-night residency titled No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí in San Juan starting July 11.So, why is Bad Bunny skipping the U.S. – a market he dominated with his Most Wanted Tour just last year?
A Simple Answer?
His own explanation is simple. In his own words:
“It’s unnecessary.”
In a recent interview with Variety, Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio – Bad Bunny – pointed to the fact that U.S. fans have had plenty of opportunities to see him perform.
It’s a logistical decision, he suggests, and a personal one. After years of global touring, he’s focusing on home.But that hasn’t stopped speculation. Many are wondering if the decision also reflects deeper tensions – specifically, the hostile climate for immigrants in the U.S., reignited by the resurgence of Donald Trump on the political stage and the aggressive policies surrounding immigration enforcement.
Fear At The Gates
Recent reports have raised concerns about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) having a visible presence at major events – such as the FIFA Club World Cup, which kicked off in the U.S. on June 14 and features Mexican teams.
These agencies allegedly stationed personnel around stadiums, stoking fears that immigrant attendees could be targeted.
According to Rolling Stone, roughly 500 people were arrested by ICE in Puerto Rico during Trump’s presidency – many of them Dominicans, the majority of whom had no criminal record.
For a performer whose fanbase includes many immigrants, especially from Latin America, the optics and potential risk are impossible to ignore.
“I don’t blame him,” one fan posted online. “If ICE is camped outside of the FIFA games, they’d probably do the same at his concerts. Why put his fans in danger?”Bad Bunny has previously expressed his anger at ICE tactics.
In a now-viral Instagram Story, he posted a video allegedly showing an ICE raid in Carolina, Puerto Rico, and didn’t mince words in condemning the agents involved.
The footage captured what appeared to be plainclothes officers in unmarked vehicles detaining people, with Bad Bunny’s voice identifying the scene and angrily calling the agents out for disrupting lives.His frustrations are far from new. As early as the 2020 U.S. presidential election, Bad Bunny voiced support for the Biden-Harris ticket and has publicly condemned the Trump administration’s record on immigration.
A Cultural Homecoming
Still, the absence of U.S. tour dates doesn’t appear to be solely – or even primarily – a political protest. It’s better understood as a statement of cultural pride and a recalibration of priorities.Bad Bunny, a proud Puerto Rican, has never shied away from his heritage.
During interviews, he often insists on speaking Spanish. He’s built his empire by staying true to his roots, helping to bring Latin trap and reggaetón into the global mainstream.
His decision to focus his tour on Latin America and his Puerto Rico residency seems to be part of that ethos.
“It’s a deeply personal project",
he told Variety, noting that even as he finished the Most Wanted Tour, his heart was already in San Juan.
His label’s CEO, Noah Assad, echoed that sentiment, calling the tour a celebration of presence over permanence – there will be no concert film, no spectacle for the archives. You had to be there.It’s also worth remembering: Bad Bunny doesn’t need the U.S. market to thrive. He has surpassed 100 billion streams on Spotify, becoming the third artist in history to do so. He’s been the most-streamed artist in the world for three consecutive years, all with albums sung in Spanish.
His appeal extends across continents, from the Caribbean to Latin America to Europe. The mainland U.S. is just one part of his global audience.
Conclusion
So, is Trump the reason Bad Bunny’s tour is skipping the U.S.?
Not officially – but the political climate can’t be ignored.
While rooted in cultural pride and a deep love for Puerto Rico, the decision may also be a protective measure for his fans and a quiet act of resistance. Still, since Bad Bunny hasn’t directly addressed it, we can’t know for certain.