At the 2025 BET Awards, rapper Doechii used her acceptance speech for Best Female Hip-Hop Artist to sharply criticize President Trump’s deployment of military forces to Los Angeles. She denounced the move as “ruthless attacks” suppressing the democratic right to protest.
Doechii said the presence of National Guard troops and Marines outside the Peacock Theater created “fear and chaos in our communities in the name of law and order.” She questioned, “What type of government is that?” as California officials, including Governor Gavin Newsom and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, condemned the operation as unconstitutional.
Protests erupted following ICE raids targeting undocumented workers, sparking unrest and dozens of arrests. Trump responded by sending over 4,100 National Guard members and Marines into the city without local consent—triggering a legal challenge from California.
Doechii invoked solidarity with Black, Latino, trans, and even Gaza communities, framing her criticism as a stand against oppression. Her call for unity resonated with her audience, but also highlighted the growing contempt for military intervention in domestic affairs.
