Norwegian tourists claim to have been detained at the American airport about the changed JD Vance photo; Officials call this reason | Today news

Mads Mikkelsen, a Norwegian tourist, was detained by US Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) at Newark Airport for five hours. He claims that the detention was due to a counterfeit picture of US Vice President JD Vance, according to a BBC report. After the incident, Mikkelsen spoke to a local publication, Nordly and the BBC, saying that the USCBP agents threatened to impose a $ 5,000 fine unless he unlocked his phone for inspection. During the search, they found a photoshoping image of JD Vance with a bare head. Mikkelsen told the BBC: “The agent seems to be very antagonized by the image. He asked me why I saved it on my phone. He explained to the agent that it was just a meme, a comedy. The agent answered by saying: It is very clearly a piece of dangerous extremist propaganda.” Mikkelson said with the Daily Star: “They asked direct questions about drug smuggling, terrorist plans and right-wing extremism, completely without reason.” He further added: “They demanded complete information about everyone I will meet in the US, including name, address, phone number and what they did for work.” He also said that he informed the agents about the legal consumption of Cannabis in Germany and New Mexico, after their extensive interrogation of drug smuggling, terrorism and extremism. In addition, he was escorted to a safe room and instructed to surrender his shoes, phone and backpack. What does USCBP say? Meanwhile, USCBP told X in a post that Mikkelsen was not allowed to enter. “Facts investigation: False,” they posted, “Mads Mikkelsen was not denied any memes or political reasons, it was for his allowed drug use.” The Department of Home Security also publicly denied that Mikkelsen was denied access due to the meme.