The Story That Went Viral
You’ve probably seen the headlines this week. A young man from Norway says he got kicked out of America before he even made it past the airport. His story? Border agents found a silly meme of Vice President JD Vance on his phone and sent him packing.
The 21-year-old tourist, Mads Mikkelsen, told his local newspaper back home that officers at Newark Airport in New Jersey treated him like a terrorist. He claims they found a digitally altered photo showing JD Vance with a bald head and chubby cheeks. According to Mikkelsen, that’s what got him a one-way ticket back to Norway.
But here’s the thing. The U.S. government says that’s not what happened at all.
ICE detained a Norwegian tourist who had a JD Vance meme on their phone. They weren’t allowed to enter the country.
These are the same people who blame Europe for a lack of free speech. pic.twitter.com/AFBjfAKOsz
— Pekka Kallioniemi (@P_Kallioniemi) June 24, 2025
What the Government Says Really Happened
Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin didn’t mince words. She called the meme story “FALSE” and “BS” on social media.
BS. Claims that Mads Mikkelsen was denied entry because of a JD Vance meme are FALSE.
Mikkelsen was refused entry into the U.S. for his admitted drug use. pic.twitter.com/AbXczQ8tg5
— Tricia McLaughlin (@TriciaOhio) June 24, 2025
U.S. Customs and Border Protection also posted on social media that:
“Mads Mikkelsen was not denied entry for any memes or political reasons, it was for his admitted drug use.”
So what drug use are they talking about? According to reports, Mikkelsen told officials he had tried marijuana once in Germany and once in Mexico. He apparently thought it was no big deal since pot is legal in those places. But here’s what matters – marijuana is still illegal at the federal level in America.
Why This Matters to Conservatives
This story hits on several issues that conservatives care deeply about. First and foremost, it’s about border security and immigration enforcement. The Trump administration has made it clear that they’re serious about who gets to enter our country.
Border agents search the devices of less than 0.01% of the nearly one million people who enter the U.S. every day. When they do search, they’re looking for serious stuff.
These searches help identify:
“terrorist activity, child pornography, drug smuggling, human smuggling, bulk cash smuggling, human trafficking, export control violations, intellectual property rights violations and visa fraud.”
The broader issue here is respect for American law. If someone admits to drug use – even in places where it’s legal – that can be grounds for denying entry. It shows the system is working as designed.
What Critics Are Saying
Of course, the left and the media jumped all over this story. Social media exploded with outrage about “free speech” and “authoritarian overreach.” Former Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger even shared the meme again, suggesting America was becoming like China.
Critics are painting this as evidence that the Trump administration is going too far. They claim it shows we’re targeting people for their political views or sense of humor.
Some are also worried about the broader policy of checking phones and social media accounts at the border. The American Civil Liberties Union argues that travelers have fewer civil rights at the border, noting that “the normal Fourth Amendment requirement of a warrant or individualized suspicion doesn’t apply.”
The Bigger Picture
This incident comes as the Trump administration has implemented tighter border controls across the board. Trump signed a travel ban affecting 19 countries this year.
The U.S. Embassy in India recently reminded visa applicants that since 2019, they must
“adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media accounts to ‘public’ to facilitate vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States under U.S. law.”
Effective immediately, all individuals applying for an F, M, or J nonimmigrant visa are requested to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media accounts to public to facilitate vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States… pic.twitter.com/xotcfc3Qdo
— U.S. Embassy India (@USAndIndia) June 23, 2025
This social media requirement shows the government has been serious about knowing who’s coming into America for years now.
The embassy’s post makes it clear:
“Every visa adjudication is a national security decision.”
They’re checking everything from Facebook posts to Instagram photos before letting people in.
For conservatives who support strong border security, this shows consistency across administrations when it comes to protecting America. The current administration is building on existing policies and enforcing them more strictly.
What’s Really Going On Here
Let’s be honest about what likely happened. A young tourist probably had some questionable stuff on his phone – not just the meme, but also a photo of a wooden pipe he’d made. When border agents asked direct questions about drug use, he admitted to trying marijuana abroad.
That admission, not the meme, triggered his removal from the country. The meme angle makes for a better story, but it’s not the real story.
What Conservatives Should Know
This case shows our immigration system is working on multiple levels. Border agents are doing their jobs at entry points. Meanwhile, embassy officials overseas have been screening people’s social media since 2019, long before the current administration took office.
The social media vetting shows the government has been proactive about security for years. Instead of waiting for problems to show up at the border, they’ve been identifying potential issues early in the visa process.
The government has broad authority to deny entry to foreign nationals. Drug use – even legal drug use in other countries- can be disqualifying. Concerning social media posts can also raise red flags. These have been the rules for years now.
What the current administration brings is the willingness to actually enforce these rules consistently. Previous leadership often looked the other way or made exceptions. This administration is following the law as written.
What Happens Next
Expect more stories like this as the administration continues its crackdown on immigration. The media will likely focus on the most sensational aspects while downplaying the legitimate law enforcement reasons.
Conservatives should stay informed about the real facts behind these headlines. Don’t let the narrative get hijacked by those who oppose strong border security.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
