Pop Star Reneé Rapp Unleashes Expletive-Laced Rant Against ICE and Trump at Portland Concert, Escalating Tensions

Rising pop sensation Reneé Rapp halted her sold-out concert at the Moda Center on Monday night to unleash a torrent of expletives against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Trump administration, and President Donald Trump himself. The 25-year-old singer-actress, fresh off a No. 1 UK album debut with Bite Me, declared to a roaring crowd of over 12,000: “Fck ICE. Fck this administration. And f*ck Trump!” The unfiltered outburst, captured on fan cellphones and swiftly going viral across social media, has thrust Rapp into the heart of America’s deepening divide over immigration policy, just as Portland simmers under the weight of nightly protests and a thwarted federal crackdown.

Rapp, known for her raw lyricism and unapologetic queer identity, kicked off her “Bite Me” tour stop with effusive praise for the City of Roses. “We are very, very, very excited to be here with you in your wonderful, wonderful city,” she beamed, according to multiple attendee videos shared on TikTok and X. But the mood shifted abruptly as she addressed the elephant in the room—or rather, the federal agents patrolling the streets outside. “And it just happens that we’re here at the same time some people who shouldn’t fcking be here are,” she continued, her voice rising with defiance. “So let’s get a couple of things abundantly fcking clear.” The arena erupted in cheers as she dropped her bombshell, a direct rebuke to the influx of ICE personnel in the liberal stronghold.

The timing could not have been more charged. Portland has become ground zero for anti-ICE fury since early October, with demonstrators clashing nightly outside the local ICE facility. Protesters, decrying what they call dehumanizing raids on immigrant communities, have hurled rocks, bottle rockets, and lasers at officers, leading to over 100 consecutive nights of unrest, according to ICE Director Camila Wamsley. Trump, escalating his hardline border rhetoric, branded the city a “war zone” infested with “violent radical left terrorism” and vowed to deploy National Guard troops to restore order. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek and Portland Mayor Keith Wilson fired back, insisting no insurrection exists and reaffirming the city’s sanctuary status for undocumented residents. A federal judge in Oregon extended a temporary block on the deployment Wednesday, citing overreach, but tensions remain sky-high, with reports of fresh skirmishes Thursday night.

Rapp’s rant taps into a growing chorus of celebrity dissent against Trump’s immigration agenda. Just last week, Chappell Roan echoed “F*ck ICE” at a Los Angeles show, drawing a snarky rebuke from Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin: “Get a grip.” RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Alaska went further at LA Pride 2025, labeling ICE a “terrorist organization.” Data from the Cato Institute underscores the stakes: Of those detained by immigration agents from October 2024 to June 2025, 65% had no criminal record, fueling accusations of indiscriminate enforcement. Rapp, a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, Planned Parenthood, and pro-Palestinian causes, has long woven activism into her art. Her breakout as the icy Regina George in Broadway’s Mean Girls (2019) and HBO’s The Sex Lives of College Girls catapulted her to stardom, but it’s tracks like “Leave Me Alone” from her 2022 debut Snow Hard Feelings that reveal her penchant for confrontation.

The backlash has been swift and savage, particularly from conservative corners. Fox News dubbed it an “expletive-filled rant,” while Breitbart lamented a “meltdown” from a star grappling with “mental health issues”—a nod to Rapp’s candid discussions of anxiety and depression. On X, detractors piled on: “Who the hell is she?” one user scoffed, predicting her career’s “abrupt end.” Another quipped, “Celebrities cursing ICE reveal more about cultural immaturity than political awareness—border enforcement isn’t tyranny, it’s law.” Calls for boycotts proliferated, with one post branding her a “privileged, rich, brainwashed tubby bitch” happy to foot the bill for “illegals’ free healthcare.” Even Reddit’s r/oregon thread exploded with 18,000 upvotes but polarized comments, from graffiti-inspired solidarity to warnings of MAGA provocation.

Yet, for Rapp’s devoted fanbase—predominantly young, progressive, and queer—the moment was pure catharsis. “Forever grateful to support someone who is never afraid to speak up,” tweeted @4everwondring, amassing over 7,000 likes. PinkNews hailed the “huge cheers,” framing it as a stand against raids tearing families apart. Ed Krassenstein amplified the clip on X, captioning it with Rapp’s words and drawing 50,000 views. Supporters see her as a beacon in an industry often accused of performative allyship, especially as Bite Me—a snarling sophomore effort blending synth-pop with heartbreak—climbs charts amid the tour.

As of Friday morning, Rapp has yet to comment officially, but her silence speaks volumes in an era where stars like her risk cancellation for candor. The incident underscores a broader cultural schism: In a nation where immigration debates fuel midterm firestorms, can artists afford to alienate half the audience? Portland’s streets, scarred by federal standoffs, offer a stark reminder that the fight is far from over. Rapp’s mic-drop may sell tickets to some and torch bridges for others, but it has undeniably amplified the cries echoing from the city’s shadows. Whether this propels her to icon status or sidelines her remains the million-dollar question—but one thing’s clear: In the coliseum of American discourse, Reneé Rapp just swung for the fences.