Pop Star Renée Rapp’s Fiery Portland Rant Ignites Backlash and Cheers: “Fck ICE, Fck Trump”

By Elena Vasquez, Entertainment Correspondent

PORTLAND, Ore. — In the electric hum of the Moda Center, where basslines thumped like a collective heartbeat, 25-year-old pop sensation Renée Rapp paused mid-set on Monday night, microphone in hand, and transformed a sold-out concert into a political powder keg. Before a sea of thousands—many waving glow sticks and rainbow flags—the Gen Z icon, fresh off her chart-topping album Bite Me, unleashed what may become the defining tirade of her young career. “Fck ICE, fck the administration, and f*ck Trump,” she declared, her voice slicing through the arena like a blade. The crowd erupted in roars of approval, but what came next—a raw accusation that the Trump administration had turned her beloved Portland into a “warzone”—left even her die-hard fans exchanging stunned glances.

It was a moment of unfiltered fury, broadcast live on social media and destined for viral immortality. Rapp, the Broadway alum who slayed as Regina George in the Mean Girls musical adaptation and charmed HBO audiences as Leighton Murray in The Sex Lives of College Girls, has never shied from controversy. But this? This was Rapp at her most incendiary, channeling the city’s simmering unrest into a profane manifesto that has since racked up millions of views, split public opinion, and drawn swift rebukes from conservative corners.

The outburst occurred about 45 minutes into Rapp’s Bite Me tour stop, a high-energy spectacle blending synth-pop anthems like “In the Kitchen” with vulnerable ballads about queer love and heartbreak. Dressed in a glittering black bodysuit that caught the stage lights like shattered glass, she stepped forward during a brief interlude, her breath visible in the cool Pacific Northwest air. “We’re so excited to be here with you tonight,” she began, her trademark smirk giving way to something sterner. “Portland, you’re wonderful. But it just happens that we’re here at the same time as some people who shouldn’t f*cking be here are.”

The “people” she referenced? Federal agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), whose recent raids and presence in the city have fueled nightly protests outside their local facility. For over 100 consecutive evenings, demonstrators—many young and queer like Rapp’s fanbase—have clashed with police, hurling bottles and chants of “No justice, no peace” at armored lines. The tension escalated last month when President Donald Trump, in a fiery White House address, vowed to deploy National Guard troops to Portland, Chicago, and Los Angeles, branding them “infested warzones” overrun by “radical left terrorism” and migrant-fueled crime. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek and Portland Mayor Keith Wilson fired back, with Kotek declaring, “There is no insurrection here—just families terrified by federal overreach,” and Wilson reaffirming the city’s sanctuary status for immigrants.

Rapp didn’t stop at expletives. “This administration is turning our city into a f*cking warzone,” she continued, her voice cracking with emotion as she gestured to the crowd. “Kids are scared to walk home from school because of these raids. Families are being ripped apart. And for what? To make some point about walls and toughness? Portland isn’t a battlefield—it’s home.” The arena fell into a hush before exploding; fans leaped to their feet, some tearing up, others pumping fists in solidarity. One attendee, 22-year-old barista Mia Lopez, later told reporters, “It was like she read my mind. I’ve been protesting outside ICE for weeks—Renée just said what we’ve all been screaming.”

But the gasp-worthy pivot? Rapp’s unapologetic nod to her own vulnerability. “I’ve lost friends to this hate,” she added, alluding to the broader toll of anti-LGBTQ+ policies under Trump. “And if speaking up costs me a sponsor or a radio play, f*ck it. We’re done pretending this isn’t personal.” It was a line that humanized her rage, transforming celebrity outrage into a Gen Z battle cry. Clips flooded TikTok and X within minutes, amassing over 5 million views by Tuesday morning. Hashtags like #FuckICEWithRenee and #PortlandWarzone trended nationwide, with supporters hailing her as a “voice for the voiceless.”

Rapp isn’t new to the fray. The Chicago native, who rose to fame at 19 with her off-Broadway debut in Anastasia, has built a brand on authenticity. Her 2023 debut album Snow Hard Feelings tackled sexual assault and queer awakening; Bite Me, released in August, debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 with tracks like “Mad” that skewer toxic exes—and, implicitly, power structures. She’s endorsed Planned Parenthood, waved pro-Palestine flags at awards shows, and in July, eviscerated Trump’s congressional speech as “obscene” on Instagram, calling applauding lawmakers “f*cking jokes.” Yet, this Portland moment feels like a Rubicon crossing, aligning her with artists like Chappell Roan and Bad Bunny, who’ve similarly blasted ICE’s “militant” tactics.

The backlash was predictable and ferocious. Conservative outlets pounced, with Breitbart branding it a “meltdown” and Fox News decrying the “profanity-filled tantrum” as evidence of Hollywood’s “liberal disorder.” Trump himself weighed in on Truth Social early Wednesday, dismissing Rapp as a “low-rated has-been spewing hate from a stage paid for by hardworking Americans.” Sponsors like a major beverage brand reportedly pulled ads from her tour, and radio stations in red states threatened boycotts. Even some fans recoiled; one X user posted, “Love her music, but this crosses a line—keep politics out of pop.”

By Thursday, however, Rapp doubled down in a statement to her 12 million Instagram followers: “I won’t apologize for defending my community. Portland showed me love—ICE shows cruelty. That’s the difference.” The post garnered 2 million likes, including shoutouts from Roan (“Sis said what we all think”) and country singer Zach Bryan, whose anti-ICE track “Bad News” faced similar flak. Legal experts note the timing is poignant: A federal judge blocked Trump’s National Guard deployment on Wednesday, citing overreach, extending a prior injunction.

In a divided America, where immigration debates rage from ballot boxes to concert halls, Rapp’s rant underscores a generational schism. For her fans—mostly under 30, per tour demographics—it’s catharsis amid policies they see as existential threats. Critics argue it’s performative, a rich artist’s “safe” rebellion. Either way, it has amplified Portland’s plight: Protests continue, with over 200 arrests since the raids began, and city officials vow to fight federal intrusion in court.

As Rapp wrapped her set with a defiant cover of Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?”, the Moda Center pulsed with unity. Outside, under drizzling skies, a small group of counter-protesters waved MAGA flags, shouting back at the dispersing crowd. “This is our city,” one fan yelled over the din. In that echo, Rapp’s words linger—not just as a curse, but as a spark. Whether it fuels reform or further fracture remains the open question of this fraught fall.