Authorities respond after tourist says he was detained when JD Vance meme was found on his phone

A Norwegian tourist, Mads Mikkelsen, claims he was detained at Newark Airport on June 11 after U.S. border agents found a meme mocking Vice President JD Vance on his phone.

The 21-year-old told Norwegian outlet Nordlys that upon arrival, he was denied entry, held in a cell, and had his phone confiscated. According to Mikkelsen, agents discovered two images: one mocking Vance by depicting him with a bald, egg-shaped head, and another showing a wooden pipe Mikkelsen had made.

He alleged that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials then threatened him with a $5,000 fine or five years in prison if he didn’t give them his phone password. He believes the images led to his deportation.

However, the CBP denied this, calling reports about the meme false. On X (formerly Twitter), they claimed Mikkelsen was turned away due to “admitted drug use,” not because of political content or memes.

Mikkelsen, on the other hand, strongly denies any drug use or political wrongdoing. He said officials questioned him about terrorism, drug trafficking, and extremism with no basis.

He described being stripped of his belongings, including his shoes and phone, and subjected to interrogation about his entire travel itinerary and contacts in the U.S.

Calling the incident an abuse of power, Mikkelsen said he felt harassed and unfairly treated. He was flown back to Norway the same day he arrived.