Star torches Donald Trump with subtle Super Bowl anthem twist

A Grammy-winning artist has gotten away with a sneaky swipe at Donald Trump as drama struck during the Super Bowl national anthem.

Grammy-winning artist Jon Baptiste has stuck the boot into US Donald Trump with a subtle tweak to the American national anthem ahead of Super Bowl LIX.

The New Orleans native had the honour of performing the “Star Spangled Banner” inside the New Orelans Superdome — and his performance has certainly raised eyebrows.

Spectators and players on the field were all applauding as the spotlight showed Batiste sitting at a rainbow-graffitied white piano on a podium in the middle of the field.

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The jazzy rendition of the famous anthem wowed fans around the country and one particular moment got tongues wagging more than others.

Batiste repeated “land of the free” three times in the final line of the song — with many interpreting it as a direct swipe at Trump, who is continuing to push controversial immigration policies, including the scrapping of the refugee resettlement program and the Humanitarian parole scheme.

Jon Batiste performs the National Anthem. Photo by Emilee Chinn / GETTY IMAGES.

US President Donald Trump stands as US singer-songwriter Jon Baptiste performs the National Anthem. Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP.

American journalist Bonnie Fuller called Batiste’s performance a “finger to Trump”.

A Kamala Harris supporter on X said Batiste’s repetition was a clear attempt to make sure Trump paid attention to the words.

For Batiste, it is personal.

Trump said this weekend he is taking over leadership of the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington — and scrapping the board of directors.

Batiste sat on that board alongside billionaire philanthropist David Rubenstein, an ally of former President Joe Biden.

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Former reality TV show host Trump made history on Monday when he became the first sitting president to attend the Super Bowl.

The TV broadcast showed Trump performing a salute in the middle of Batiste’s performance.

The broadcast also appeared to show that Trump was given a warm reception by the crowd as he stood from his private suit in the grand stand.

The repetition of the “land of the free” line pushed Batiste’s performance to exactly two minutes.

Kansas City Chiefs star Chris Jones was one of many in tears during the anthem.

Batiste, who was dressed in all black, finished the anthem as United States marine corps fighter jets flew over the stadium.

Baptiste took the stage after “America the Beautiful” performers Lauren Daigle and Trombone Shorty and “Lift Every Voice and Sing” performer Ledisi.

Jon Batiste at the piano. Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images.

Last year, Reba McEntire sang the national anthem at Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas, which saw the Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers in overtime.

She gave the song a country twang and wore black pants, bedazzled in rhinestones, with a sparkly blazer.

The year before, fellow country star Chris Stapleton sang the patriotic song.

Batiste broke the two-year trend of prominent country singers doing the national anthem at the Super Bowl.

The musician began his career performing on the streets of New York with his Juilliard School peers in the band Stay Human. In 2015, they became the house band on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”

Batiste found massive success as a solo artist, winning five Grammy Awards in 2022, including Album of the Year for “We Are.” He won two more Grammys at the Feb. 2 award show for his documentary “American Symphony,” which explores his relationship with his wife, Suleika Jaouad, and her ongoing cancer battle.

He’s also an Oscar winner for scoring the 2020 Pixar animated movie “Soul.”

Kendrick Lamar headlined the half-time show with guest performer SZA.

— with New York Post