Tourist 'refused entry into US' and jailed over bald JD Vance meme

[Hatuey]

Tourist 'refused entry into US' and jailed over bald JD Vance meme

Mads Mikkelsen arrived at New Jersey's Newark Airport on June 11 when he was pulled aside by border control and placed in a cell, he told Norwegian outlet Nordlys.

www.irishstar.com

A 21-year-old Norwegian tourist alleges he was barred from entering the United States and mistreated by ICE agents after they found a JD Vance meme on his phone.

Mads Mikkelsen landed at Newark Airport in New Jersey on June 11, only to be detained by border control and put in a cell, as he shared with Norwegian news outlet Nordlys. Mikkelsen had planned to visit friends in New York and Austin, Texas, but instead experienced what he describes as "harassment and abuse of power" by US immigration officials.

Had to do a double take on that name as I thought they were talking about the actor. I then realized it was just regular political extremism against a regular person.



Get ready to have your cellphones searched folks. Remember who to thank as you vote in 2026.

 

[joluoto]

And this is why no tourists goes to the US anymore. To avoid this shit.

 

[Decypher]

A friend of mine is a film director and we were talking about this issue yesterday. She is supposed to be going to the US later this year to hire some crew for a film. However, the visa applications are now demanding social media handles be provided. So she had decided to cancel the trip, as over the years she has been critical of Isreal and Trump on Twitter and Instagram.

I’ll be sure to remind the next person I see bloviating about freedom of speech of this.

 

[Bonnot]

The GOP ks so fragile. They literally just want an echo chamber of right wing garbage constantly.

 

[SayMyName]

Tourist 'refused entry into US' and jailed over bald JD Vance meme

Mads Mikkelsen arrived at New Jersey's Newark Airport on June 11 when he was pulled aside by border control and placed in a cell, he told Norwegian outlet Nordlys.

www.irishstar.com

Had to do a double take on that name as I thought they were talking about the actor. I then realized it was just regular political extremism against a regular person.

View attachment 67576568

Get ready to have your cellphones searched folks. Remember who to thank as you vote in 2026.

I have lived and worked overseas for most of my life. I fully expect to be searched at any time, which is why I will not have anything picture wise on my phone that could be frowned upon. Only an idiot would do that. The US is playing catch up. Have a meme on your phone unfavorable in China, Sweden, or Britain and other nations and see what happens.

 

[phoenix2020]

I have lived and worked overseas for most of my life. I fully expect to be searched at any time, which is why I will not have anything picture wise on my phone that could be frowned upon. Only an idiot would do that. The US is playing catch up. Have a meme on your phone unfavorable in China, Sweden, or Britain and other nations and see what happens.

I travel abroad roughly 25-30 times a year, nearly every continent and I have to admit I’ve yet to have to show my phone—including roughly 40 crossings into China.

What is it about you that causes Chinese border security personnel to review the data on your phone during transits? Do you have an anti-Xi tattoo on your forehead or something?

 

[SayMyName]

I travel abroad roughly 25-30 times a year, nearly every continent and I have to admit I’ve yet to have to show my phone—including roughly 40 crossings into China.

What is it about you that causes Chinese border security personnel to review the data on your phone during transits? Do you have an anti-Xi tattoo on your forehead or something?

You totally missed the point, perhaps with reason. Show a picture of Xi as Winnie the Pooh to the customs agent and see what happens. I live and work in China. I have yet to be searched. That does not mean I will play the fool and keep such a picture. Maybe, you would.

 

[Utility Man]

"......Humor offers a low cost way to crack the façade of fear upon which so many dictators rely. Laughter, after all, is infectious. Once a dictator becomes fair game for the few, he or she becomes fair game for all......"

"......The best acts of laughtivism confront autocrats with a dilemma: the government can either crack down on those who ridicule it (making itself look even more ridiculous in the process) or ignore the acts of satire aimed against it (and risk opening the flood gates of dissent)......"

Why dictators don't like jokes – Nehanda Radio

Revolutions are serious business. But even the most somber of revolutionaries can’t afford outdated tactics. And whether in the Middle East, Russia, or elsewhere, the record is clear: rage alone no longer cuts it.

nehandaradio.com

Laughtivism - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Seems as though maga has a "devastating and ruthless sense of humor" yeah.



Pretty sure they're proud of it and/or would agree 100% that they derive pleasure from the suffering of "others". "**** your feelings" was literally their motto at one point, right.

 

[PeteEU]

You totally missed the point, perhaps with reason. Show a picture of Xi as Winnie the Pooh to the customs agent and see what happens. I live and work in China. I have yet to be searched. That does not mean I will play the fool and keep such a picture. Maybe, you would.

Why would you do that? I mean you would not take off your pants and start humping women either right?

 

[snakestretcher]

I have lived and worked overseas for most of my life. I fully expect to be searched at any time, which is why I will not have anything picture wise on my phone that could be frowned upon. Only an idiot would do that. The US is playing catch up. Have a meme on your phone unfavorable in China, Sweden, or Britain and other nations and see what happens.

Britain? Nothing will happen. We aren't pathetic, fragile snowflakes like Trump and his toytown cabinet.

 

[SNOWFLAKE]

Have a meme on your phone unfavorable in China, Sweden, or Britain and other nations and see what happens.

BUT........................................ Whatabout those OTHER countries? They DO it. So the U.S. who has always been MORE welcoming should now follow their example.

Whataboutism is an argumentative tactic where a person or group responds to an accusation or difficult question by deflection. Instead of addressing the point made, they counter it with “but what about X?”.

Whataboutism: Behind the Deflecting Tactic in Arguments | FlaglerLive

Whataboutism is an argumentative tactic where a person or group responds to an accusation or difficult question by deflection. Instead of addressing the point made, they counter it with “but what about X?”

flaglerlive.com

You totally missed the point, perhaps with reason. Show a picture of Xi as Winnie the Pooh to the customs agent and see what happens.

So what? We are talking about tourists going to the U.S. Your lame attempt at deflection is just that............ lame!

If my Canadian government did something like that, I would be critical, I would NOT be asking people to look elsewhere as an excuse.

Sheesh!!

 

[Chock Full o Nuts]

As far as the phone, watch any border/airport security show for the past 10 years or whatever. When entering certain countries(not just the US), they can rightly look through your phone, laptop, whatever to try and verify your intentions on travel.

Nothing new. You aren't afforded the same protections at that point.

As far as some of the rest of the story, I'm having a feeling of a little embellishment. "Forcefully strip searched...""

They asked direct questions about drug smuggling, terrorist plans and right-wing extremism, completely without reason,"

So the right wing airport Gestapo is questioning them about right-wing extremism?

 

[Simon W. Moon]

I have lived and worked overseas for most of my life. I fully expect to be searched at any time, which is why I will not have anything picture wise on my phone that could be frowned upon. Only an idiot would do that. The US is playing catch up. Have a meme on your phone unfavorable in China, Sweden, or Britain and other nations and see what happens.

What is it like to let government officials scroll through your social media accounts?

How long does it usually take?

 

[ncguy]

You totally missed the point, perhaps with reason. Show a picture of Xi as Winnie the Pooh to the customs agent and see what happens. I live and work in China. I have yet to be searched. That does not mean I will play the fool and keep such a picture. Maybe, you would.

You're comparing China Sweden and Britain? Lol are you worried as a tourist if you go to Britain and have a picture on your phone you're going to end up being treated like this guy was?

 

[j brown's body]

I have lived and worked overseas for most of my life. I fully expect to be searched at any time, which is why I will not have anything picture wise on my phone that could be frowned upon. Only an idiot would do that. The US is playing catch up. Have a meme on your phone unfavorable in China, Sweden, or Britain and other nations and see what happens.

Can you point to any problems we have had by not doing this before?

Meme's critical of a politician, btw, not of the nation.

 

[dcsports]

Tourist 'refused entry into US' and jailed over bald JD Vance meme

Mads Mikkelsen arrived at New Jersey's Newark Airport on June 11 when he was pulled aside by border control and placed in a cell, he told Norwegian outlet Nordlys.

www.irishstar.com

Had to do a double take on that name as I thought they were talking about the actor. I then realized it was just regular political extremism against a regular person.



Get ready to have your cellphones searched folks. Remember who to thank as you vote in 2026.

Five seconds to search for a better source...

MSN

CBP said in a post on X that “Mads Mikkelsen was not denied entry for any memes or political reasons, it was for his admitted drug use.”

https://www.financialexpress.com/world-news/us-news/norwegian-tourist-denied-entry-into-us-over-bald-jd-vance-meme-customs-officials-fact-check-report/3891906/

US Customs and Border Protection officials respond
“Fact Check: FALSE,” the CBP shared via X, as they also attached a screenshot of the Daily Mail report titled, “Norwegian tourist, 21, is barred from entering the US after ICE guards find meme showing JD Vance with a bald head on his phone.”

Officials further added, “Mads Mikkelsen was not denied entry for any memes or political reasons, it was for his admitted drug use.”

 

[stealthycat]

Five seconds to search for a better source...

MSN

CBP said in a post on X that “Mads Mikkelsen was not denied entry for any memes or political reasons, it was for his admitted drug use.

 

[Artymoon]

Five seconds to search for a better source...

ending an outrage thread just about the time I was getting entertained...

 

[Peacenik]

Tourist 'refused entry into US' and jailed over bald JD Vance meme

Mads Mikkelsen arrived at New Jersey's Newark Airport on June 11 when he was pulled aside by border control and placed in a cell, he told Norwegian outlet Nordlys.

www.irishstar.com

Had to do a double take on that name as I thought they were talking about the actor. I then realized it was just regular political extremism against a regular person.

View attachment 67576568

Get ready to have your cellphones searched folks. Remember who to thank as you vote in 2026.

4th Amendment violation.

 

[The Brad Dad]

I have lived and worked overseas for most of my life. I fully expect to be searched at any time, which is why I will not have anything picture wise on my phone that could be frowned upon. Only an idiot would do that. The US is playing catch up. Have a meme on your phone unfavorable in China, Sweden, or Britain and other nations and see what happens.

So you think we should be MORE like China? Sweden and Britain do not detain people over memes on their phones, you couldn't be more wrong.

 

[The Brad Dad]

CBP said in a post on X that “Mads Mikkelsen was not denied entry for any memes or political reasons, it was for his admitted drug use.

They lie all the time.

 

[Chock Full o Nuts]

4th Amendment violation.

Not for a tourist or what have you entering at a border or airport.
AI Overview


While non-citizens generally have some Fourth Amendment protections in the U.S.
, including the right against unreasonable searches and seizures, the situation is different at airports and other ports of entry.
The "border search exception" allows customs and border officers to conduct searches of people and their belongings entering the U.S. without a warrant or suspicion, for national security and to prevent illegal items from entering the country. This exception applies to routine searches and detentions

 

[ALiberalModerate]

You totally missed the point, perhaps with reason. Show a picture of Xi as Winnie the Pooh to the customs agent and see what happens. I live and work in China. I have yet to be searched. That does not mean I will play the fool and keep such a picture. Maybe, you would.

We aren't China. When I travel to China, I don't criticize the CCP or the government there. The United States isn't China, we have a constitutional Republic with protections for individual liberty and a culture that values freedom of expression.

 

[W_Heisenberg]

CBP said in a post on X that “Mads Mikkelsen was not denied entry for any memes or political reasons, it was for his admitted drug use.

He told the Norwegian newspaper Nordlys that he was questioned at the airport about illegal drug use.

He admitted to having used cannabis on two occasions — in Germany and in New Mexico.

- It’s legal in both places, so in my mind it was irrelevant, he said.

Admitted to legal drug use: – Didn't think it was of relevance

Mads was denied entry to the US - caused media frenzy.

www.nordlys.no

People are going to get sick and tired of this bullshit.

MAGA will die with Trump.

 

[What if...?]

A friend of mine is a film director and we were talking about this issue yesterday. She is supposed to be going to the US later this year to hire some crew for a film. However, the visa applications are now demanding social media handles be provided. So she had decided to cancel the trip, as over the years she has been critical of Isreal and Trump on Twitter and Instagram.

I’ll be sure to remind the next person I see bloviating about freedom of speech of this.

I always wondered when I would get a visit from the men in black cars and sunglasses to ask why I have no social media accounts.

If I was visiting I suppose I would be summarily renditioned to the gulag.