Mads Mikkelsen, 21, told Nordlys newspaper that he was planning a two-month tour across the United States to visit friends and explore national parks.
But upon arriving at Newark Liberty International Airport earlier this month, his trip took a dramatic turn.
According to Mikkelsen, he was immediately pulled aside for questioning about “smuggling and extremism,” despite having no criminal history and valid travel documents.
Things escalated when agents demanded access to his phone—something foreign visitors can be required to grant under US Customs and Border Protection protocols.
On his device, officers reportedly found a handmade wooden pipe and an edited image of Vice President JD Vance depicted as an overweight child—a meme that gained brief popularity online earlier this year as Vance assumed office.
Mikkelsen says that after the images were discovered, the tone changed. He alleges he was subjected to a strip search, fingerprinted, had blood samples taken, and was detained for five hours before being placed on a return flight to Norway without ever officially entering the United States.
“They treated me like a criminal over a joke image,” he told Nordlys. “I was humiliated, and no one would tell me what I had done wrong.”
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency has not publicly commented on the incident, and Mikkelsen's case has sparked debate in Norway over digital privacy and the broad discretion granted to U.S. border agents.
Legal experts note that CBP officials have wide-ranging powers at points of entry, including the authority to deny admission without explanation.
However, the incident raises questions about how satire and online expression are interpreted in immigration settings, particularly under increased scrutiny of digital content.
Vice President Vance’s office has also not responded to requests for comment.