Kim Kardashian has become one the most prominent celebrities to speak out against President Trump for using U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to step up immigration sweeps in her hometown of Los Angeles, which have sparked days of protests there in and cities throughout California and the rest of the United States.
Kardashian’s statement against the ICE raids also marks a notable public turn in the billionaire influencer’s apparent embrace of Trump’s return to power in Washington, according to the Daily Beast. While Kardashian never endorsed a candidate in the 2024 election, she has promoted Elon Musk’s Tesla cars in recent months, praised Melania Trump’s inauguration outfit and has proudly shared glamorous images of her socializing with her good friend Ivanka Trump.
On her Instagram Story Wednesday, Kardashian slammed what ICE is doing in Los Angeles, while speaking up on behalf of immigrants, who, she said, are “woven in the fabric” of the city.
“When we’re told that ICE exists to keep our country safe and remove violent criminals — great. But when we witness innocent, hardworking people being ripped from their families, we have to speak up,” Kardashian said. “We have to do what’s right.”
Kim Kardashian(L)and Ivanka Trump listen as US President Donald Trump speaks about second chance hiring and criminal justice reform in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, June 13, 2019. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
The reality TV star, who is also an aspiring attorney and criminal justice reform advocate, continued: “We can’t turn a blind eye when fear and injustice keep people from living their lives freely and safely.”
While Kardashian didn’t mention Trump by name, her statement is a sharp rebuke of his policies and rhetoric on immigration enforcement. During a speech at Fort Bragg, South Carolina, Tuesday, the president called protesters, demonstrating against the raids, “animals” and “a foreign enemy,” and he vowed to “liberate” the California city.
The protests in Los Angeles and elsewhere escalated as Trump deployed 4,700 National Guard troops and the Marines to the city and its surrounding areas, over the objections of California Gov. Gavin Newsom and local leaders. On Wednesday, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and leaders of more than 30 smaller cities in California called for an end of the ICE sweeps.
“When you raid Home Depots and workplaces, when you tear parents and children apart, and when you run armored caravans through our streets, you’re not trying to keep anyone safe — you’re trying to cause fear and panic,” Bass said at a news conference in downtown Los Angeles.
For her part, Kardashian said that immigrants “are our neighbors, friends, classmates, coworkers and family.” She said, “No matter where you fall politically, it’s clear that our communities thrive because of the contributions of immigrants.”
But if Kardashian intended for her statement to be accepted as nonpartisan, the Trump administration didn’t see it that way, according to the Daily Beast. On Wednesday. Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin posted several photos of various men to X, whom she claimed were “illegal criminals who have been picked up in the last 72 hours” and asked Kardashian “which one of these convicted child molesters, murderers, drug traffickers, and rapists would you like to stay in the (county)?”
Kardashian’s statement against ICE comes after other celebrities had earlier spoken out against the ICE raids and the deployment of the military in neighborhoods in U.S. cities.
Oscar-nominated actor Mark Ruffalo posted a lengthy message on Instagram referring to the “oligarchy” that Americans now find themselves in, The Guardian reported. “You are pointing your guns in the wrong direction,” Ruffalo wrote. “Can’t you see that maybe we are being tricked to tear each other apart while they rake it in?”
Ruffalo’s message drew a positive response from Halle Berry, Marisa Tomei, Melanie Griffith and others. Actor Pedro Pascal also shared a video celebrating the diversity of America, writing: “Los Ángeles. Built by the best of U.S. #Protect our #Protectors #RESIST.”
At Monday night’s BET awards, the rapper Doechii used her acceptance speech to express outrage over the situation, according to The Guardian. “There are ruthless attacks that are creating fear and chaos in our communities in the name of law and order,” she said. “Trump is using military forces to stop a protest.” She added: “We all deserve to live in hope and not in fear.”