Renée Rapp, the singer and actress known for her role in ‘Sex Lives of College Girls,’ took to the stage in Portland, Oregon, to deliver a fiery expletive-laden critique of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and President Donald Trump during her concert. The performance, which gained attention on TikTok through former CNN journalist Don Lemon’s account, saw Rapp passionately denounce recent ICE raids and the Trump administration, calling for solidarity with anti-ICE protests. Rapp’s comments were met with loud applause from the crowd, highlighting the intense public sentiment against ICE in the city.
Portland has experienced weeks of violent clashes between anti-ICE protesters and police, with the city’s police department reportedly absent under local orders. ICE Director Camila Wamsley stated that the Portland ICE facility has endured over 100 consecutive nights of disorder from protesters, with police largely absent. These demonstrations have escalated beyond chants and signs, with protesters allegedly launching bottle rockets and rocks at the building, using lasers to target officers’ eyes, and erecting barricades to block vehicles.
While Rapp’s performance was a powerful expression of anti-ICE sentiment, it’s not the only instance of artists taking a stand. Country artist Zach Bryan sparked controversy with a viral snippet of his song ‘Bad News,’ which contains anti-ICE lyrics. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem criticized Bryan for the song, calling it ‘completely disrespectful’ to law enforcement and the country. Bryan Andrews, another country artist, also went viral on TikTok with a rant condemning ICE raids and those who support them, stating, ‘Bulls—. You don’t get to call yourself a Christian and advocate and f—— laugh when families are torn apart outside of courthouses of people trying to come here the right ways.’
The Trump administration had sought to deploy National Guard troops to quell the unrest, but a U.S. District Judge temporarily blocked the order, calling it ‘untethered from reality.’ The judge warned that the move would risk ‘blurring the line between civil and military federal power — to the detriment of this nation.’ Local leaders also criticized Trump’s deployment plan, calling his portrayal of Portland ‘hyperbolic’ and arguing that federal policing was unnecessary. The ongoing tensions in Portland underscore the growing divide between the city and the federal government over immigration policies, with artists and activists playing a significant role in amplifying the debate.