Vice President JD Vance sparked outrage online Tuesday after threatening to use Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) against international visitors attending the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the U.S.
Speaking at a White House event, Vance said, “We will have visitors probably from close to a hundred countries. We want them to come, we want them to celebrate, we want them to watch the games.”
But he quickly followed up with a chilling warning: “But when the time is up, they’ll have to go home, otherwise they will have to talk to Secretary Noem,” referring to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who was seated nearby.
Vance’s comments sent shockwaves across social media, with critics accusing him of threatening to deport World Cup fans even before they set foot in the country.
On Bluesky, UK-based artist Luke Ridge urged potential visitors to stay home, saying: “Honestly, just watch it from the safety of your sofa, folks.”
Yaroslav Trofimov, a foreign affairs correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, responded: “Quite a way to motivate foreign tourists.”
University of Illinois professor Kate Clancy blasted Vance, writing on Bluesky: “Trying to decide if Vance is our most sycophantic VP of all time. Please, no one come to the World Cup. We don’t deserve your tourism dollars and you don’t deserve the dangers.”
Former MSNBC host Keith Olbermann predicted that FIFA would move the World Cup in response to Vance’s remarks, writing on X: “Relax on Vance’s insane threat to jail international World Cup ticket holders if they don’t leave the country immediately rather than stay here and spend tourism money. Watch. FIFA will be moving the World Cup elsewhere.”
Podcaster John Brooks summed it up in a post on Bluesky: “Wow weird no one wants to come here.”
Vance’s comments have cast a shadow over the upcoming World Cup, leaving many to wonder if his threat could harm tourism and sour international relations. Watch his remarks below:
VANCE: We'll have visitors from close to 100 countries. We want them to come, we want them to celebrate, we want them to watch the games. But when the time is up, they'll have to go home, otherwise they'll have to talk to Secretary Noem
AUDIENCE: 🦗😳🦗😳 pic.twitter.com/AzJyFscFZG
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 6, 2025
