TikTok’s most-followed creator Khaby Lame was detained and removed from the United States after a Trump-connected Gen Z influencer claimed to have orchestrated the immigration enforcement action against the social media superstar.
Key Takeaways
- Khaby Lame, TikTok’s most-followed creator with 162.2 million followers, was detained by ICE at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas for overstaying his visa.
- Bo Loudon, an 18-year-old conservative influencer with connections to the Trump administration, has publicly claimed credit for facilitating Lame’s detention by contacting officials.
- Lame, originally from Senegal and now an Italian citizen, was granted voluntary departure on June 6 and has since left the United States.
- The detention represents a high-profile example of President Trump’s intensified immigration enforcement policies, which are now being applied to celebrities and influencers.
- Despite his massive following and brand partnerships with Boss, Binance, and Unicef, Lame’s celebrity status did not exempt him from immigration law enforcement.
Conservative Influencer Claims Role in Detention
Bo Loudon, a rising conservative Gen Z influencer with close ties to the Trump family, has taken credit for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) action against Khaby Lame. Loudon, the 18-year-old son of former Republican Missouri state Senator John Loudon and conservative media personality Gina Loudon, has been actively involved in President Trump’s outreach to young voters. The young influencer has positioned himself as a direct conduit between the administration and digital culture, frequently posting about his relationships with Trump and the president’s son, Barron Trump.
“I’ve been working with the patriots at President Trump’s DHS to make this happen,” Loudon, 18, wrote on X.
In a more detailed claim about his involvement, Loudon stated that he personally took action after discovering alleged immigration violations. “I discovered he was an illegal who overstayed an invalid VISA, evaded taxes, and I personally took action to have him deported,” Bo Loudon said.
TikTok Star’s Brief Detention and Departure
Khaby Lame, who rose to fame during the pandemic with his trademark silent, deadpan comedy videos mocking overly complicated life hacks, was detained at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas on June 6. According to ICE, Lame had “overstayed the terms of his visa” after entering the United States on April 30. The TikTok sensation, who boasts more followers than Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and President Trump combined, was granted voluntary departure the same day and has since left the country without publicly addressing the incident.
“TikTok star Khaby Lame was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas on June 6 for “immigration violations,”” U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement stated.
Lame’s meteoric rise to social media stardom began after being laid off from his factory job in Italy during COVID-19 lockdowns. The 24-year-old, who was born in Senegal before moving to Italy as a child, received Italian citizenship in 2022. Despite his global fame, recent Met Gala attendance, and lucrative brand partnerships, his celebrity status did not shield him from the Trump administration’s strengthened immigration enforcement protocols.
Part of Broader Immigration Enforcement Push
Lame’s case highlights the Trump administration’s commitment to enforcing immigration laws regardless of an individual’s public profile or social media influence. This detention comes amid intensified deportation efforts across the country, particularly in areas like Los Angeles where significant law enforcement resources have been deployed. The administration has been fulfilling campaign promises to crack down on illegal immigration and visa violations, a policy that now extends to high-profile international celebrities and influencers.
“Using the hashtag ‘learnfromkhaby’ on many of his videos, Lame’s fame is more akin to the internet stardom of yore, in which an exasperated look or a quick humorous bit, stripped of any high production value or product placement, could take off on Vine,” USA Today reported.
Loudon’s involvement in Lame’s detention underscores the growing intersection between social media influence and political action. The young conservative has also claimed responsibility for arranging interviews between President Trump and influencers like Adin Ross and Joe Rogan, positioning himself as a bridge between traditional political power and digital celebrity. “It was the honor of my life to be able to organize and attend the LEGENDARY stream between Rightful President Trump and my friend @AdinRoss,” Loudon wrote at the time. “GEN-Z STANDS WITH TRUMP!” Bo Loudon said.
No Special Treatment for Digital Celebrities
The swift detention and removal of the world’s most-followed TikTok star sends a clear message that the Trump administration’s immigration policies apply equally to everyone, regardless of follower count or fame. While critics have questioned the enforcement priorities, supporters view this action as evidence of the administration’s commitment to applying immigration laws consistently across all segments of society. Lame’s case demonstrates that in the current political climate, digital influence does not translate to immunity from immigration enforcement.
Lame has remained silent on the matter, offering no public statement about his detention or his future plans regarding travel to the United States. With his considerable business interests and global brand partnerships, the immigration issue could have significant implications for his career going forward. The incident serves as a stark reminder that even those with massive digital influence must navigate traditional legal frameworks, particularly when crossing international borders.
