‘We have to speak up': Hollywood stars react to Trump's military-backed immigration raids
LOS ANGELES, June 12 — As President Donald Trump's military-backed crackdown on immigrants continues in Los Angeles and across the US, celebrities are speaking out against the tactics and what they say are the intolerant views driving them.
Some pointed to the gulf between Trump's apocalyptic descriptions of a city in flames and the reality of a vast and diverse metropolis where largely peaceful protests are limited to a small part of downtown.
Here's what the glitterati had to say:
'We have to speak up'
Many celebrities touched on the disconnect between Trump's claims about arresting dangerous criminals and raids that appear to be targeting day labourers and factory workers.
'When we're told that ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) exists to keep our country safe and remove violent criminals — great,' LA native and reality star Kim Kardashian wrote on social media.
'But when we witness innocent, hardworking people being ripped from their families in inhumane ways, we have to speak up.'
The billionaire behind Skims underwear added: 'Growing up in LA, I've seen how deeply immigrants are woven into the fabric of this city. They are our neighbours, friends, classmates, coworkers and family.
'No matter where you fall politically, it's clear that our communities thrive because of the contributions of immigrants.'
Singer Doechii echoed that sentiment in her acceptance speech for best female hip hop artist at the BET Awards on Sunday.
'There are ruthless attacks that are creating fear and chaos in our communities in the name of law and order. Trump is using military forces to stop a protest,' the Anxiety singer said.
'We all deserve to live in hope and not fear'
'Not an apocalypse'
Late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel gave a blistering 12-minute monologue from his studio in the heart of Hollywood, opening with footage of tourists enjoying the nearby attractions and a movie premiere.
'Not only is it not an apocalypse, they're having a Disney/Pixar movie premiere right now for Elio, a movie about aliens — don't tell Trump, he'll send the Green Berets in, too,' the comedian said.
There is something wrong, he said, with innocent people 'being abducted — which is the correct word to use — by agents in masks, hiding their identities, grabbing people off the streets.'
'Un-American'
Grammy- and Oscar-winning musician and producer Finneas, famous for collaborations with sister Billie Eilish and for work on the Barbie movie soundtrack, reported being caught up in a heavy-handed police response at a protest.
'Tear-gassed almost immediately at the very peaceful protest downtown — they're inciting this,' the LA native wrote on Instagram.
'Desperate Housewives' star Eva Longoria, called the raids 'un-American.'
'It's just so inhumane, hard to watch, it's hard, it's hard to witness from afar, I can't imagine what it's like to be in Los Angeles right now,' she wrote on Instagram.
Longoria added that the protests were a result of 'the lack of due process for law-abiding, tax-paying immigrants who have been a part of our community for a very long time.' — AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
43 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
Pro-Palestinian protest leader Mahmoud Khalil released from US custody
NEW YORK, June 21 — Mahmoud Khalil, a leader of US pro-Palestinian campus protests, was released from a federal detention centre yesterday, according to news footage. The former Columbia University student was seen leaving the immigration detention centre in Jena, Louisiana wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh scarf, hours after a federal judge ordered his release after more than three months in custody. — AFP
Malay Mail
15 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Trump celebrates ‘big win' as US court allows National Guard deployment in Los Angeles
SAN FRANCISCO, June 20 — A US appeals court yesterday ruled that President Donald Trump could continue control of National Guard troops in Los Angeles, over the objections of California Governor Gavin Newsom. Trump ordered the deployment of thousands of National Guard troops and hundreds of Marines into Los Angeles this month in response to protests over federal immigration sweeps — a move opposed by city leaders and Newsom. A lower court judge had last week ordered Trump to return control of the California National Guard to Newsom, saying the president's decision to deploy them to protest-hit Los Angeles was 'illegal.' But a three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals unanimously ruled that Trump was within his rights when he ordered 4,000 members of the National Guard into service for 60 days to 'protect federal personnel performing federal functions and to protect federal property.' 'Affording appropriate deference to the President's determination, we conclude that he likely acted within his authority in federalising the National Guard,' they said in their 38-page ruling. Trump celebrated the decision in a post on Truth Social Thursday night, calling it a 'BIG WIN.' 'All over the United States, if our Cities, and our people, need protection, we are the ones to give it to them should State and Local Police be unable, for whatever reason, to get the job done,' Trump wrote. Members of the California National Guard are deployed outside a complex of federal buildings in Santa Ana, California June, 18, 2025. — Reuters pic 'Not a king' The state of California had argued that Trump's order was illegal because it did not follow the procedure of being issued through the governor. The judges said Trump's 'failure to issue the federalisation order directly 'through' the Governor of California does not limit his otherwise lawful authority to call up the National Guard.' But the panel said it disagreed with the defendants' primary argument that the president's decision to federalise members of the California National Guard 'is completely insulated from judicial review.' Governor Newsom responded to the decision saying Trump 'is not a king and not above the law.' 'Tonight, the court rightly rejected Trump's claim that he can do whatever he wants with the National Guard and not have to explain himself to a court,' he posted on X. 'We will not let this authoritarian use of military soldiers against citizens go unchecked.' Newsom added in a separate post on his personal X account 'the fight doesn't end here', adding 'we will press forward with our challenge to President Trump's authoritarian use of US military soldiers against citizens.' The state could request the case to be reheard, or it could petition the Supreme Court for intervention. People protest against federal immigration sweeps, during the Juneteenth holiday in New York City June 19, 2025. — Reuters pic Immigration tensions The ruling comes against a backdrop of heightened tensions in Los Angeles, which has become ground zero of Trump's immigration crackdown across the United States. The city has seen scattered violence but mostly peaceful protests in recent weeks, ignited by an escalation in federal immigration sweeps that have targeted migrant workers in garment factories, car washes and other workplaces. Local media reported further raids across the city yesterday targeting Home Depot stores, a home improvement retailer where day labourers often gather in parking lots seeking work. The protests, though largely peaceful, saw sporadic and spectacular violence. Damage included vandalism, looting, clashes with law enforcement and several torched driverless taxis. Trump, who has repeatedly exaggerated the scale of the unrest, also sent 700 US Marines to Los Angeles despite the objections of local officials, claiming that they had lost control of the 'burning' city. It was the first time since 1965 that a US president deployed the National Guard over the wishes of a state governor. Trump appointed two of the judges on the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit panel, and former president Joe Biden appointed the third, the New York Times reported yesterday. — AFP
Free Malaysia Today
18 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Trump to make Iran war decision in ‘next 2 weeks'
The two-week deadline comes days after US president Donald Trump publicly mulled joining Israel's strikes on Iran. (AP pic) WASHINGTON : US President Donald Trump said Thursday he will decide whether to join Israel's strikes on Iran within the next two weeks as there is still a 'substantial' chance of talks to end the conflict. Trump's move to hit the pause button could open up space for diplomacy, after days of fevered questions about whether or not he would order US military action against Tehran. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt read out a message from Trump after what she called 'a lot of speculation' about whether the United States would be 'directly involved' in the conflict. 'Based on the fact that there's a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks,' Trump said in the statement. Trump has set two-week deadlines that subsequently shifted on a series of other tough topics in the past, including the Russia-Ukraine war, but Leavitt denied he was putting off a decision. 'If there's a chance for diplomacy the president's always going to grab it, but he's not afraid to use strength as well,' Leavitt said. At the same time Leavitt reinforced the sense of urgency, telling reporters that Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in the space of a 'couple of weeks.' 'Iran has all that it needs to achieve a nuclear weapon. All they need is a decision from the supreme leader to do that, and it would take a couple of weeks to complete the production of that weapon,' she said. Iran denies seeking a nuclear weapon, saying that its program is for peaceful purposes. Trump said on Wednesday that Iran had asked to send officials to the White House to negotiate a deal on its nuclear program and end the conflict with Israel, although Iran denied making any such request. Washington and Tehran had continued 'correspondence' since Israel first struck Iran last week, Leavitt said. She said however that there were currently no plans for Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff to join European diplomats meeting Iran's foreign minister in Geneva on Friday. Trump met his top national security team in the White House Situation Room for the third day in a row on Thursday. He will have similar meetings daily until he leaves for a Nato summit in the Netherlands on Monday, the White House said. His two-week deadline comes after a tense few days in which Trump publicly mulled joining Israel's strikes on Iran and said that Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was an 'easy target.' Trump had spent weeks pursuing a diplomatic path towards a deal to replace the nuclear deal with Iran that he tore up in his first term in 2018. But he has since backed Israel's attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities and military top brass, while mulling whether to join in. A key issue is that the United States is the only country with the huge 'bunker buster' bombs that could destroy Iran's crucial Fordo Iranian nuclear enrichment plant. 'We have capabilities that no other country on this planet possesses,' said Leavitt. The White House meanwhile urged Trump supporters to 'trust' the president as he decides whether to act. A number of key figures in his 'Make America Great Again' movement, including commentator Tucker Carlson and former aide Steve Bannon, have vocally opposed US strikes on Iran. Trump's promise to extract the United States from its 'forever wars' in the Middle East played a role in his 2016 and 2024 election wins. 'Trust in President Trump. President Trump has incredible instincts,' Leavitt said.
