Mads Mikkelsen, a 21-year-old Norwegian vacationer, says his summer time trip to the U.S. ended earlier than it might even start, all due to a meme of JD Vance.
Mikkelsen landed at Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport on June eleventh, anticipating to discover the States. However shortly after his arrival, he says he was pulled apart by border officers, positioned in a holding cell, and interrogated for hours. In line with Norwegian outlet Nordlys, Mikkelsen described the expertise as “an abuse of energy and harassment.”
“They requested questions on drug trafficking, terrorist plots, and right-wing extremism completely with out motive,” he mentioned. Issues escalated when border brokers demanded entry to his telephone. Mikkelsen says he was threatened with a $5,000 superb or 5 years in jail if he didn’t hand over his password.
As soon as inside his telephone, brokers reportedly discovered a meme saved in his photograph roll. The picture poked enjoyable at JD Vance by exaggerating his head to look bald and egg-shaped. That, in keeping with Mikkelsen, was the turning level.
He was instantly denied entry and placed on a return flight to Norway the identical day.
The incident raises questions on how U.S. border brokers interpret digital content material, particularly humorous or political memes, and whether or not it performs a job in entry selections. It follows intently on the heels of one other controversial case: Australian author Alistair Kitchen claimed he was turned away at LAX after brokers questioned him about his views on the Gaza battle and pro-Palestinian protests.
As Mikkelsen tells it, his case wasn’t about security—it was about expression. And in 2025, it seems that even a meme could be sufficient to get your passport stamped “denied.”
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