Norwegian tourist claims he was denied US entry for having JD Vance meme on his phone

Norwegian tourist claims meme led to US deportation.

A 21-year-old Norwegian man has alleged that he was refused entry into the United States after airport authorities discovered a meme on his mobile phone mocking US Vice President JD Vance. Mads Mikkelsen had landed at Newark Liberty International Airport with plans to meet friends in New York and Texas and embark on a road trip with his mother to explore national parks. However, his journey came to an abrupt end following an unexpected interrogation by US immigration officials.

According to Mikkelsen, upon his arrival he was taken to a room where armed personnel asked him to surrender his personal belongings, including his phone and shoes. He recounted being accused of involvement in drug smuggling, terrorism, and far-right activity — allegations he described as completely baseless.

The meme in question, which depicted a caricature of Vice President Vance with a bald head, had been automatically saved from a group chat, Mikkelsen explained. Alongside it, officials also took issue with a photo of him holding a hand-carved wooden pipe. He insisted both images were innocent and had no deeper significance.

Mikkelsen claims the officers demanded he unlock his phone under threat of a $5,000 fine or imprisonment. Despite explaining that the content was harmless, his device and belongings were scrutinised, and he was subjected to fingerprinting and blood sampling. Additionally, he was required to hand over extensive personal information about his US contacts, including their professions and phone numbers.

He described the ordeal as physically and emotionally draining, having just completed a long-haul flight and arriving at Newark in a state of exhaustion. That same day, officials ordered him onto a flight back to Norway.

In response to the incident, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) denied that the meme was the reason for denying him entry. Instead, they stated that Mikkelsen had admitted to previous drug use, which was the actual cause for concern. They refuted the viral claims circulating online about the image of JD Vance being the deciding factor.

Mikkelsen’s story has come to light at a time when numerous European travellers have faced heightened scrutiny at American borders, following stricter immigration enforcement introduced after Donald Trump returned to the presidency. Earlier in June, President Trump implemented a travel ban affecting nationals from 19 countries.