A 21-year-old Norwegian tourist, Mads Mikkelsen, claims he was denied entry into the United States due to a satirical meme of Vice President JD Vance found on his phone. The meme, which showed Vance with a bald, egg-shaped head, reportedly triggered an intense and humiliating search by U.S. immigration officials at Newark Airport.
According to Mikkelsen, he was stopped by ICE agents upon arrival, subjected to aggressive questioning about drug smuggling and terrorism, and threatened with prison time unless he handed over his phone password. After unlocking his device, agents allegedly found the meme, along with a photo of Mikkelsen holding a wooden pipe. He says this led to a strip search, blood test, and fingerprinting, followed by five hours in a holding cell without food or water.
Mikkelsen was returned to Oslo the same day and told Nordlys that the experience left him devastated and fearful of returning to the U.S.
However, the Department of Homeland Security disputes his account. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin labeled the meme-related claims “false” and “BS,” stating that Mikkelsen was actually denied entry due to “admitted drug use,” not because of any political content on his phone.
The incident has stirred debate over the extent of digital privacy at borders and the treatment of international travelers by U.S. immigration officials.
