Tourist says he was barred from entering U.S. over JD Vance meme
A Norwegian tourist claims his dream U.S. vacation turned into a nightmare after border agents allegedly denied him entry because of a meme mocking Vice President JD Vance.
Mads Mikkelsen, 21, was heading to visit friends in New York and Texas when U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) searched his phone and found two images: a viral meme of Vance with a bald, egg-shaped head and a photo of Mads holding a homemade wooden pipe.
He says this led to a 12-hour ordeal, including intense questioning, a strip search, and deportation back to Norway. “They accused me of drug smuggling and terrorism. I felt humiliated,” Mads told Norwegian media. He claims CBP agents threatened him with fines and forced him to unlock his phone.
However, CBP strongly denies the meme was the reason, saying Mads was denied entry due to his admitted drug use, not political content. The Department of Homeland Security backed up this statement, calling the meme claims “unequivocally false.”
Mads insists his treatment was excessive and politically driven. He says he was held without food or water for hours and no longer feels safe traveling to the U.S.
The incident has sparked debate about digital privacy and border security, especially as U.S. agents are allowed to search phones without a warrant. Norway’s Foreign Ministry has since warned travelers to review U.S. regulations carefully.
For Mads, the trip is over—but the meme that may have played a role is still circulating online.
