Was A Norwegian Tourist Denied Entry to the US Over a JD Vance Meme?

A 21-year-old Norwegian tourist, Mads Mikkelsen, claimed he was denied entry to the United States for a meme of Vice President JD Vance found on his phone on June 11, though US officials have since disputed the claim.

Original Report: Mikkelsen said Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at Newark airport searched his phone and threatened him with a $5,000 fine or five years in prison if he didn’t agree. He said officials “asked questions about drug trafficking, terrorist plots and right-wing extremism totally without reason.” The claim was first reported by Norwegian outlet Nordlys on June 23 before being picked up by The Daily Mail (Right bias) and other English-language outlets on June 24.

Government Rebuttal: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) wrote on June 24, “FACT CHECK. Claims that Mads Mikkelsen was denied entry because of a meme are unequivocally FALSE. TRUTH: Mikkelsen was refused entry into the U.S. for his admitted drug use.”

Mikkelsen’s Response: On June 25, Mikkelsen spoke again to Nordlys, this time for an English-language feature. Mikelsen said he was asked about illegal drug use and admitted to having used cannabis in Germany and New Mexico, two locations where he noted it is legal. Mikkelsen claims he received a written denial from US authorities that included false claims; among them were that he was a Spanish citizen, had a smoking pipe on hand, and intended to visit family in the US.

How The Media Covered It: The story was covered by several mainstream media outlets the week of June 23, though it was not the biggest story. Time Magazine (Lean Left) credited The Daily Mail for “amplifying” the story. The Daily Mail updated its original report to include a statement from the DHS and included context on an Australian man who was detained and sent back from Los Angeles airport on June 12.

Written by the AllSides staff (of humans). Learn more. Support our mission.