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What was supposed to be a routine update on the 2026 FIFA World Cup took a sharp turn after U.S. Vice President JD Vance cracked a “joke” that many say felt more like a threat, especially to the millions of foreign tourists expected to travel to the U.S. for the tournament.
Speaking at a World Cup Planning Task Force meeting at the White House, Vance said:
“Everyone’s welcome to come watch the games... but when time’s up, they’ll have to go home. Otherwise, they’ll have to talk to Secretary Noem.”
“It’s genuinely insane that we’re hosting the World Cup and the Olympics under these conditions,” another post read.
He smiled as he said it, referencing Kristi Noem, the current Secretary of Homeland Security. But the line, meant to draw laughs, has instead drawn outrage, particularly from international audiences and immigrant communities already wary of the Trump administration’s tough immigration policies.
JD Vance jokes about deporting visitors who come to America to watch the FIFA World Cup pic.twitter.com/5CgcKS2Jps
— FactPost (@factpostnews) May 6, 2025
The clip quickly went viral, with many social media users warning that this wasn’t just an offhand remark; it was a red flag.
“They aren’t kidding. This is a threat,” one user wrote. “If you’re coming from abroad, especially if you’re not white, think twice.”
Others pointed out that these kinds of comments could damage the spirit of one of the world’s biggest sporting events, which is expected to bring more than 6.5 million fans from over 100 countries to North America.
“Way to make tourists feel unwelcome before they’ve even booked their flights,” another person tweeted.
“That’s one way to screw up a $17 billion global event.”
One viral tweet captured the mood perfectly:
“JD Vance is so far from funny, even Trump looked like, ‘dude, shut the hell up.’”
Many critics noted that this goes beyond an awkward joke; it reflects a deeper anxiety about how non-citizens, including tourists, might be treated during the tournament. The U.S. is hosting most of the games, alongside Canada and Mexico, but recent policy shifts and rhetoric have raised alarms about whether foreign visitors will face surveillance, profiling, or worse.
“It’s genuinely insane that we’re hosting the World Cup and the Olympics under these conditions,” another post read.
Immigration rights groups and travel advocates have called on U.S. officials to clarify whether visitors will face increased scrutiny or stricter visa enforcement tied to the event.
So far, there’s been no official comment from the White House or Homeland Security.
*Source: Buzz Feed
