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NDTV
3 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
"Dangerous Extremist Propaganda": How A Bald JD Vance Meme Got Tourist Banned From US
A 21-year-old Norwegian tourist called Mads Mikkelsen was detained by the US Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) at Newark Airport for five hours. Mikkelson claims it was because of a doctored photo of US Vice President JD Vance. After he returned to Norway, Mikkelsen spoke to a local newspaper Nordlys and stated that the USCBP agents threatened to slap a $5,000 fine on him if he did not unlock his phone and let them scroll through the photos. In his photo gallery, the agents discovered a photoshopped picture of JD Vance with a bald, egg-shaped head on his phone. Mikkelsen told the BBC, "The agent seemed to be very antagonised by the image. He asked me why I had it saved on my phone." He went on to explain to the agent that it was just a meme, a piece of comedy. The agent responded by saying, "It's very clearly a piece of dangerous extremist propaganda". However, he also said that he told agents about legally consuming cannabis in Germany and New Mexico, in places where it was legal to do so, after they extensively questioned him about drug smuggling, terrorism and extremism. He was also taken to a guarded room and asked to surrender his shoes, phone and backpack. US law does state that an individual can be turned away for drug use even if they have not been convicted of a crime. Later, USCBP clarified in a post on X that Mikkelsen was denied entry because of his admitted drug use. "Fact Check: FALSE," they posted, "Mads Mikkelsen was not denied entry for any memes or political reasons, it was for his admitted drug use." The Department of Homeland Security has also publicly denied that Mikkelsen was denied entry because of the meme. Mikkelsen said that the entire episode had been traumatic because of strip-searches, luggage ransacking, fingerprinting, blood sampling and falsified travel records. His Norwegian passport had also been mistakenly labelled as "Spanish". The paperwork he was given by US immigration officials, mentions another reason for his removal. Officials thought he may be attempting to seek unauthorised employment in the US. Mikkelsen said, "I would not return while the current government is in power." US Customs and Border Protection say that about one million individuals enter the United States every day, and of those people, only less than 0.01 per cent of travellers have their devices searched.
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
JD Vance Bald Baby Face Meme Shown in Irish Parliament
Irish lawmaker Ivana Bacik held up a meme depicting Vice President JD Vance, in her country's parliament on Tuesday following reports a 21-year-old Norwegian tourist was refused access to the U.S. because he had the image on his phone. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has denied this allegation ,saying the tourist was refused entry "for his admitted drug use." Newsweek contacted Vance for comment on Thursday via email outside of regular office hours. Since the Trump administration assumed office in January it has sought to clamp down on illegal immigration whilst also revoking the visas of some international students who have taken part in pro-Palestinian demonstrations. There have since been a number of reports of tourists from other developed economies being detained or refused entry into the U.S. and several European countries have updated their travel advice raising fears for the U.S. tourism industry. Bacik, the leader of Ireland's Labour Party, which is the fourth largest party in the legislature, held up a printout of a meme which Norwegian tourist Mads Mikkelsen said was found on his phone by U.S. border guards, who then denied him entry to the country. The image was a modified image of Vance portraying the vice president as bald, with smooth skin, and a rounder face. Some of his facial features are also exaggerated. It is part of a series of memes Internet users have dubbed the "JD Vance Babyface Edits." Addressing Jim O'Callaghan, Ireland's Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Bacik said: "This week a young Norwegian tourist detained by ICE at Newark Airport and sent back to Oslo. Why? He had this meme on his phone minister, a meme depicting Vice President JD Vance as a baby. I mean extraordinary, extraordinary. "That a young person with this amusing meme on their phone depicting a public person, that this would be used as an excuse to detain him for five hours and then deport him back to Oslo." Bacik then asked "what can you do to reassure young people here who hope to travel to the U.S. on a J1 visa?" J1 visas allow entry to the U.S. for education or cultural exchanges. O'Callaghan said "I can't control the U.S. immigration system" but added the Irish government would raise the issue with American authorities. Changes to J1 student visa application rules implemented by the Trump administration mean applicants must disclose all social media accounts they have used over the past five years so they can be viewed by U.S. authorities before any visa is granted. Speaking to Norwegian publication Nordlys, Mikkelsen said he was detained after arriving at Newark Airport in New Jersey on June 11 for a vacation, held in a cell for several hours and "asked questions about drug trafficking, terrorist plots and right-wing extremism totally without reason." Mikkelsen added he gave his phone password to officers after being threatened with five years in prison or a $5,000 fine if he refused to comply, where the meme of Vance was found. He was then instructed to return to Oslo. Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, described claims Mikkelsen was denied access to the U.S. as "BS" and "FALSE" adding on X: "Mikkelsen was refused entry into the U.S. for his admitted drug use." In the Irish Parliament Bacik said new social media rules for J1 applications were a "major incursion on freedom of expression" adding: "Generally [a J1 sponsored trip is] a very positive experience, but things have changed drastically under U.S. President Trump, with the recent authoritarian announcement that students would have to hand over social media accounts." O'Callaghan replied: "I think it is regrettable that these new measures are being introduced by the United States. I welcome the fact that the Taoiseach [ Irish prime minister] and Tánaiste [Irish deputy prime minister] have indicated they think it's inappropriate, we'll mention it with the U.S. authorities." Speaking to Nordlys about his experience Mikkelsen said: "I was pushed up against a wall and was strip-searched with a lot of force. They were incredibly harsh and used physical force the whole time. "I felt completely devastated and broke down, and was close to crying several times. I was on the verge of panic. It felt like I was a terrorist suspect where I was sitting. I tried to pull myself together several times, but in the end, I just wanted to get home again." The requirement that U.S. authorities can view prospective J1 visa applicant's social media accounts is likely to cause further controversy, with critics arguing it's a form on censorship whilst supporters say it protects America from foreign political agitators. Related Articles Popular Airline Is Forcing Some of Its Employees To Pay Them Back-Here's WhyGreen Card Holder in US for Decades Was Held by ICE for Over 2 WeeksTikTok Illegally Sent Personal Data to China: RegulatorDad Finds Angry Letter Years After Making Son Pay Rent-but There's a Twist 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
US warns of visa denial, ban if applicants found lying about social media presence
The US Embassy in India has issued new guidelines for immigrants applying for a US visa. Based on the latest statement, the US state department has warned of a visa ban or denial in case applicants are found lying about their social media presence. The the US state department has warned of a visa ban or denial in case applicants are found lying about their social media presence.(Representational Image) Last month, the Trump administration shared that all US visa applicants would be required to share their social media accounts, marking the shift from visa interviews to social media vetting. In the latest announcement issued on Thursday, the US Embassy in India has stated that applicants must list the social media accounts they have been using for at least five years. "Applicants certify that the information in their visa application is true and correct before they sign and submit. Omitting social media information could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future visas," the statement added further. US govt increases social media vetting Under Trump, the US government has increased its surveillance on social media. From detaining foreign students on the basis of their posts to revoking visas, the Trump administration has openly stated it will use social media accounts to vet people visiting or staying in the US. In the most recent case, a 21-year-old Norwegian student claimed he was detained at Newark Airport for having memes of US Vice President JD Vance on his phone. 'They threatened me with a minimum fine of $5,000 or five years in prison if I refused to provide the password to my phone,' he alleged. The photo showed Vance sporting a bald, egg-shaped head that went viral in March. However, US officials denied this and stated the student was stopped due to his admission to drug use. The Trump administration's push for social media vetting is also due to the federal government crackdown on pro-Palestinian protests that swept US colleges and campuses in 2024.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
After weeks of severe delays Newark claims it's now the most on-time large airport in the US
Newark Airport's fortunes appear to have dramatically reversed, with United Airlines claiming that it's now the most on-time large airport in the US. The airport, United's largest hub, has recently faced a perfect storm of issues that have led to extreme delays and flight cancellations for passengers. The problems have included air traffic controllers experiencing communication blackouts while directing planes, air traffic control staff walking out, exacerbating a staffing shortage, and one of the three runways, 11,000-foot-long 4L-22R, being shut while undergoing a $121 million repair. The shortage of air traffic controlers is an issue that is still being addressed, but United, citing data from aviation analytics company masFlight, claims that since the work was completed on 4L-22R on June 2, Newark "isn't just the most on-time New York-area airport, it is the most on-time among the 15 largest U.S. airports". United says that almost 84 percent of Newark flights have arrived within 14 minutes of schedule, "better than any other of the largest 15 airports in the US". The airline continued in a statement: "Despite severe weather along the East Coast this week, United Newark flights continued to have a higher completion percentage than any other New York area airport, a title held since June 2. "As travelers prepare for the July 4 holiday, they can travel to, through and from Newark with confidence all summer long." For the Fourth of July period, United expects to fly an average of 560,000 people every day and operate 4,800 flights per day, an average of more than three take-offs every minute. June 27 and July 3 will be the busiest travel days, the airline projects, with about 580,000 passengers each day. Part of United's preparation for the peak summer travel season is an array of new features on its app that the airline says will help passengers make their connections. Customers with connecting flights at United's US hub airports can now access a special section of the app that includes a countdown to connecting flights, customized turn-by-turn directions to their connecting gate with estimated walk times, real-time flight status updates, tips for longer layovers, and notifications if a connecting plane can be held. United claims that during a beta test period this spring, more than 350,000 customers used the new features, achieving a 98 percent success rate in making their connections. "We know that giving people more information, in a transparent and easy-to-understand way, can help de-stress the connecting flight experience," said David Kinzelman, United's Chief Customer Officer. "Our award-winning mobile app is a game-changer during travel, and with these new features, our customers will have even more real-time details about their flight and, as a result, have an even better experience flying United."
New York Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Tourist says he was barred from entering US over JD Vance meme on phone: ‘Abuse of power, harassment'
A Norwegian tourist has claimed he was harassed and refused entry to the US after immigration officers found a meme of JD Vance on his phone. Mads Mikkelsen, 21, touched down at New Jersey's Newark Airport on June 11, excited to visit friends in New York City before traveling to Austin, Texas. Advertisement His plans were thrown into complete disarray after he was reportedly quizzed on 'terrorism and drugs' before being thrown in a holding cell. 'I was subjected to abuse of power and harassment,' Mikkelsen told Norweigen newspaper Nordlys. 6 A meme was found on Mikkelsen's device that depicted a chubbier, bald and cartoonish Vice President JD Vance. Obtained by The NY Post 'They took me to a room with several armed guards, where I had to hand over my shoes, mobile phone, and backpack,' he added. Advertisement Mikkelsen claims that immigration officials stopped him and quizzed him 'about drug trafficking, terrorist plots, and right-wing extremism,' which he said was 'totally without reason.' He was then placed in a cell. Next, Mikkelsen said that officials threatened to imprison him or fine him $5,000 if he did not grant them access to his phone, so he did. Advertisement It was at that point where agents made the discovery of a meme on his device that depicted Vice President JD Vance's face – altered to make him chubbier, bald and cartoonish. 'The picture had been automatically saved to my camera roll from a chat app, but I really didn't think that these innocent pictures would put a stop to my entry into the country,' he said. Mikkelsen claims he pleaded with agents that the photos were a joke, but they didn't want to hear it. Instead, they searched him, forced him to give blood samples and supply his fingerprints. 6 Norwegian tourist, Mads Mikkelsen, was refused entry to the US at New Jersey's Newark Airport after immigration officers found a meme on his phone. AP Advertisement 'It felt like I was a terrorist suspect where I was sitting,' he said. 'I tried to pull myself together several times, but in the end, I just wanted to get home.' Mikkelsen said he was placed on a flight back to Norway that same day. The incident has sparked a wave of criticism on social media, with many declaring the act as an infringement on free speech. 6 Mikkelsen had to give blood samples and supply his fingerprints, and was placed on a flight back to Norway. AP 'Barring a tourist over a meme mocking the VP? This is what authoritarianism looks like,' said one. '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,' influencer Pekka Kallioniemi wrote on X. 'Remember when JD Vance went to Germany to lecture them about free speech? That was hilarious,' wrote another. Advertisement 'So much for free speech. Note to visitors: Best not come for a few years,' said one US resident. 6 'Barring a tourist over a meme mocking the VP? This is what authoritarianism looks like,' one person wrote on social media. AFP via Getty Images It comes after a former NSW police officer was detained, jailed overnight and deported from the US late last month. Nikki Saroukus from south-west Sydney was 'treated like a criminal', denied her rights, subjected to invasive searches and a night in federal prison after travelling to Hawaii to visit her US military husband. Advertisement Saroukos told that she arrived with her mother to Daneil K Inouye International Airport for a routine three-week holiday when things took a sharp turn at the customs desk. Saroukus and her mom were taken to a holding area for questioning while their bags were tossed out and inspected, along with their documents. 6 Nikki Saroukus, a former NSW police officer, was detained and deported from the US late last month. Nicolle Saroukos / TikTok 6 Saroukus was subjected to invasive searches after traveling to Hawaii to visit her US military husband. Nicolle Saroukos / TikTok There, she was forced to surrender her phone and passwords, and questioned about her work as a former police officer. Advertisement 'They were asking me about ice and meth and whether I knew how much was being imported from New Zealand.' After the statement concluded she was told to wait outside where she was then subjected to a DNA swab – which she was given no explanation for. She was further forced to sign a document declaring she was not a part of a cartel and had no affiliation with gang members. Advertisement Saroukos said she was handcuffed, subjected to an in-depth cavity search and marched through the airport in full view of the public before being driven to a federal detention facility where she spent the night. She was then put on a flight back to Australia the following day.
