Taylor Lorenz’s Power User Deported Over a JD Vance Meme
Jun 27, 2025
Can a meme actually lead to deportation? A Norwegian tourist’s ejection over a JD Vance meme sparks a discussion on political speech at U.S. borders. The chilling reality of surveillance on travelers' social media highlights a growing threat to free expression. With increased scrutiny, activists and casual visitors alike face consequences for their opinions, signaling a complex intersection of immigration policy and digital censorship. The border is now a battleground for freedom of speech.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Mads Mikkelsen's Detention Story
- Norwegian tourist Mads Mikkelsen was detained at Newark Airport and questioned intensely at Customs.
- Officials found a viral J.D. Vance meme on his phone and shortly after deported him to Norway.
Border as Free Speech Front Line
- The U.S. government is increasingly using border enforcement to police speech and political beliefs.
- This chilling effect targets activists, journalists, and visitors under vague security pretenses.
Border Device Searches Are Murky
- The border search exception lets agents search devices without suspicion but with inconsistent court rulings.
- Reasonable suspicion is sometimes required for phone searches but policies remain murky.