Doechii used her moment in the spotlight at the 2025 BET Awards to launch a blistering attack on Donald Trump and his controversial immigration policies. The TDE rapper, who won Best Female Hip Hop Artist, took to the stage and transformed her acceptance speech into a rallying cry against government crackdowns and military force being used against protesters.
“There are ruthless attacks that are creating fear and chaos in our communities in the name of law and order,” Doechii told the audience, as tensions in Los Angeles remain high amid a wave of immigration raids. Her words came just as protesters in the city were clashing with ICE agents in response to Trump’s escalating enforcement efforts.
The “Anxiety” rapper went further, criticizing the use of military force to stifle demonstrations. “Trump is using military forces to stop a protest. I want you all to consider what kind of government it appears to be when every time we exercise our democratic right to protest, the military is deployed against us. What type of government is that?” she asked, drawing cheers from the crowd.
Doechii ended her impassioned remarks by expressing solidarity with immigrant communities and other marginalized groups affected by recent policies. “People are being swept up and torn from their families. I feel like it’s my responsibility as an artist to use this moment to speak up for all oppressed people … We all deserve to live in hope and not fear. I hope we stand together.”
Her speech struck a chord as Los Angeles faces heightened unrest. The latest raids triggered mass protests, with Trump responding by sending over 4,000 National Guard troops to the city. Reports also confirm the deployment of active-duty Marines to further bolster enforcement.
While Trump has been known to swiftly respond to criticism from entertainers, he has yet to publicly address Doechii’s speech.
The former president has already been a lightning rod in the hip hop world in recent weeks amid reports he is considering a presidential pardon for Diddy, should the music mogul be convicted of sex trafficking. The news sparked backlash from figures like 50 Cent, who criticized the potential pardon and reminded followers of Diddy’s past outspoken opposition to Trump.
In response, Trump said he would “consider” the pardon after reviewing the facts, prompting 50 Cent to publicly reject the idea: “He said some really bad things about Trump, it’s not OK. I’m gonna reach out so he knows how I feel about this guy.”
With Doechii now adding her voice to a growing chorus of artists challenging Trump’s policies, it is clear that the intersection of hip hop and politics remains as dynamic—and contentious—as ever. Whether Trump will respond directly remains to be seen, but the BET Awards stage has once again proven to be a powerful platform for political expression.
