Authorities have responded after a 21-year-old Norwegian man says his dream American vacation turned into a nightmare... allegedly over a political meme found on his cell phone.
Held at Newark Airport Over Meme and Pipe Photo, Tourist Claims
Mads Mikkelsen landed at Newark Airport on June 11, expecting to spend several weeks visiting friends in New York and later traveling to Austin, Texas.
But according to his interview with Norwegian outlet Nordlys, his trip was abruptly cut short when he was detained upon arrival by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Mikkelsen said officers confiscated his phone, discovered two images in his camera roll, and used them as grounds to deny him entry: a meme mocking U.S. Vice President JD Vance with an exaggerated bald head, and a photo of a wooden pipe he’d made.
He claims he was told he could be fined $5,000 or imprisoned for five years if he didn’t unlock his device, per News.com.au.
CBP Denies Political Motive, Cites Drug Use
However, despite Mikkelsen's interview and story being widely shared online, authorities have responded with his claim, calling it "FALSE".
In a public statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) - shared alongside a screenshot of the Daily Mail's headline - CBP denied that memes or political content led to Mikkelsen’s deportation. The agency said the decision was based on the tourist’s “admitted drug use.”
“Fact Check: FALSE,” the statement read. “Mads Mikkelsen was not denied entry for any memes or political reasons, it was for his admitted drug use.”
Mikkelsen, however, insists otherwise and says officials "abused their power". “
They asked questions about drug trafficking, terrorist plots, and right-wing extremism totally without reason,” he told Nordlys. “I was subjected to abuse of power and harassment.”
"Felt Like a Terrorist Suspect"
According to Mikkelsen, after being detained he was led into a room by several armed guards, stripped of his shoes, backpack, and phone, and placed in a holding cell.
After unlocking his phone under pressure, agents allegedly focused on a meme that had been automatically saved to his gallery via a messaging app — the image featured a distorted portrayal of JD Vance, who became vice president under Donald Trump.
Despite explaining that it was a harmless joke circulating online since February, Mikkelsen said he was treated like a serious threat. “It felt like I was a terrorist suspect where I was sitting,” he said, adding that he had to undergo fingerprinting and a blood sample collection before being flown back to Norway that same day.
Outrage Over Free Speech and Alleged Overreach
The incident ignited fierce reactions online, with critics accusing U.S. authorities of censorship and authoritarian behavior.
“Barring a tourist over a meme mocking the VP? This is what authoritarianism looks like,” one user wrote.
Another pointed out the irony: “ICE detained a Norwegian tourist who had a JD Vance meme on their phone… These are the same people who blame Europe for a lack of free speech.”
Others sarcastically recalled Vance’s past free speech remarks abroad, with one quipping: “Remember when JD Vance went to Germany to lecture them about free speech? That was hilarious.”
However, following the CBP's tweet, they have received their fair share of support.
"Ooops!!! The truth came out pretty quickly. The story smelled to high heaven," one person responded, with another adding: "What?! Here I actually believed him. So sad, can’t trust anybody these days."
Not an Isolated Incident: Pattern of Aggressive Detentions?
Mikkelsen’s alleged experience appears to mirror that of other international travelers recently denied entry to the U.S. under controversial circumstances.
Just last month, Nikki Saroukus — a former Australian police officer — was detained at Hawaii’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport while attempting a vacation with her mother. Saroukus claimed she was interrogated about drug imports from New Zealand, subjected to invasive searches, had her DNA swabbed, and was ultimately jailed overnight before being deported.
“They were asking me about ice and meth and whether I knew how much was being imported from New Zealand,” she said. She was reportedly forced to declare she had no gang affiliations before being marched through the airport in handcuffs.
However, once again, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security responded to the claims that Saroukus was detained over the Trump Administration's strict immigration policies, per the Daily Mail.
Issuing a fact-check via X that defended the decision to deny her entry, officials alleged Saroukos raised red flags due to “suspicious luggage,” excessive clothing for a three-week visit, and vague responses about her recent marriage. They noted she couldn't recall her wedding date and had married just over a month after meeting her now-husband.
Authorities also cited “unusual phone activity,” including 1,000 deleted texts, and claimed she gave conflicting information about her husband's military status. “If you attempt to enter the United States under false pretenses, there are consequences,” the department warned.