Mads Mikkelsen is a Norwegian tourist who recently claimed that he was denied entry to the US after officials discovered a meme of Vice President JD Vance on his phone
The young tourist who hails from Tromsø, Norway, reportedly faced the bizarre and distressing experience at a U.S. airport.
Who is Mads Mikkelsen, Norway tourist allegedly denied entry into USA due to JD Vance meme on his phone
BREAKING: A 21-year-old Norwegian tourist, Mads Mikkelsen, claims he was denied entry to the United States and harassed by ICE agents after they discovered a bald JD Vance meme on his phone.
Don’t you dare share the meme that he was harassed over below:
“I felt prejudiced,… pic.twitter.com/KpPQ14YPf2
— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) June 24, 2025
Norwegian media claimed that Mads Mikkelsen (21) was denied entry for having a humorous photo of JD Vance on his phone. Trump-haters have used the case to 'prove' that Trump is authoritarian.
Now, border control is stepping forward to say that’s not true.
FACT CHECK (by the… pic.twitter.com/fHLg8JA8Yc
— Rebecca Mistereggen (@RMistereggen) June 25, 2025
Mikkelsen was reportedly on a routine visit to see friends and explore national parks before the incident turned into hours of interrogation, detention, and an unexpected flight home.
Mads Mikkelsen denied entry to the US
U.S. immigration officials recently stopped a Norwegian tourist named Mads Mikkelsen at the Newark Liberty International Airport. Aside from the arrest, the officials subjected him to hours of questioning and searches after the agents reportedly found a meme mocking Vice President JD Vance on his phone. The image was a digitally altered image showing Vance as bald and overweight.
Mikkelsen also reported that the officers accused him of drug trafficking, terrorism, and political extremism without any evidence. Upon hesitating to unlock his phone, the agents allegedly threatened him with jail time or a $5,000 fine. After eventually complying with the officials, they scoured through his data and disapproved of a picture of him with a homemade pipe, further escalating their search with the actual reason for him being denied entry into the US being said to be him admitting to drug use.
The officials even took blood samples, fingerprints, and detailed personal information, including names, phone numbers, and occupations of all the people that he had planned to meet. Mikkelsen revealed how the whole ordeal left him exhausted and shaken, and that he was sent back to Norway the same day after nearly 12 hours at the airport. As of now, the Department of Homeland Security has not made any response to media inquiries.
Mads Mikkelsen biography and age
Fact Check: FALSE
Mads Mikkelsen was not denied entry for any memes or political reasons, it was for his admitted drug use. pic.twitter.com/is9eGqILUq
— CBP (@CBP) June 24, 2025
Mads Mikkelsen is a 21-year-old man from Tromsø, which is a city in northern Norway above the Arctic Circle. He is reportedly an adventurous traveller with a deep appreciation for nature and culture. Prior to the ordeal at the airport, Mikkelsen had planned to spend time in New York City and Austin, Texas, besides visiting national parks with his mother.
Profession and career
There are currently no details regarding Mads Mikkelsen and his profession, aside from the fact that he was simply traveling as a tourist. However, there are no indications that he has a profession in politics or a profession that would raise red flags.