President Trump’s ICE detains world’s most-followed TikTok star Khaby Lame, a victory claimed by young conservative influencer Bo Loudon who personally contacted the administration to report the social media sensation for overstaying his visa.
Key Takeaways
- Khaby Lame, TikTok’s most-followed creator with 162.2 million followers, was detained by ICE at Las Vegas airport for immigration violations
- 18-year-old conservative influencer Bo Loudon, who claims friendship with Barron Trump, took credit for initiating the detention by contacting Trump administration officials
- Lame, a Senegalese-Italian citizen, was granted voluntary departure after being detained on June 6 and has since left the United States
- The high-profile detention aligns with President Trump’s intensified immigration enforcement policies
- Lame has not publicly addressed his detention despite his massive social media presence
Conservative Gen Z Influencer Claims Credit for ICE Action
Bo Loudon, an 18-year-old conservative influencer with family connections in Republican politics, has taken public credit for the detention of Khaby Lame by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Loudon, the son of former Missouri state Senator John Loudon and conservative media personality Gina Loudon, claims to have leveraged his connections within the Trump administration to initiate enforcement action against Lame, who has over 162 million TikTok followers, making him the platform’s most popular creator.
“Bo Loudon, a conservative Gen Z influencer who has called Donald Trump’s son Barron Trump his “best friend,” is taking credit for helping Immigration and Customs Enforcement briefly detain Italian-Senegalese social media star Khaby Lame, the world’s most-followed person on TikTok,” said Bo Loudon.
In social media posts, Loudon claimed that he discovered Lame was “an illegal who overstayed an invalid VISA, evaded taxes,” and that he “personally took action to have him deported.” Loudon has previously been involved in President Trump’s campaign efforts, including organizing interviews with influencers like Adin Ross and working to court young male voters. His claims about helping to orchestrate the detention of one of social media’s biggest stars represent a bold escalation in his political activism.
ICE Detention Part of Broader Immigration Crackdown
Khaby Lame was detained on June 6 at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas after authorities determined he had “overstayed the terms of his visa.” This enforcement action appears to be part of President Trump’s broader crackdown on immigration violations, which has intensified since his return to office. According to ICE, Lame was granted voluntary departure the same day and has since left the United States. The detention of such a high-profile figure signals that the administration is willing to enforce immigration laws regardless of celebrity status.
“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,'” according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Lame, who entered the United States on April 30, reportedly remained in the country beyond his authorized stay. Originally from Senegal, Lame gained Italian citizenship in 2022 after living in Italy since childhood. He rose to worldwide fame during the pandemic after being laid off from a factory job in Italy, creating simple, wordless videos that mock overly complicated life hack content. His signature gesture of extending his hands in exasperation became a global meme, helping him secure brand deals with Boss, Binance, and UNICEF.
Implications for Influencers and Immigration Policy
Lame’s detention illustrates that even individuals with massive platforms and celebrity status are subject to immigration enforcement under the Trump administration. Despite having attended the 2025 Met Gala and possessing substantial wealth and influence, Lame was not exempt from the consequences of violating U.S. immigration laws. This high-profile case serves as a clear message that the administration is serious about enforcing immigration regulations regardless of an individual’s social status or public recognition.
“I’ve been working with the patriots at President Trump’s DHS to make this happen,” Loudon, 18, wrote on X. – Bo Loudon.
The case also highlights how social media influence has intersected with political activism. Bo Loudon’s involvement demonstrates how young conservative influencers are finding ways to impact policy implementation directly. Loudon has positioned himself as a bridge between the Trump administration and younger voters, claiming in social media posts that it was “the honor of my life to be able to organize and attend the LEGENDARY stream between Rightful President Trump” and influencer Adin Ross, adding “GEN-Z STANDS WITH TRUMP!” This activism now extends beyond campaigning to apparently facilitating enforcement actions.
Silence from the TikTok Star
Despite having a platform with more followers than Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and President Trump combined, Lame has remained uncharacteristically silent about his detention. The TikTok star has not publicly addressed the incident or responded to media requests for comment. This silence is notable from someone whose career is built on regular communication with a massive audience. Whether this reflects legal advice, personal embarrassment, or strategic consideration remains unclear, but the contrast between his usual social media presence and current silence is striking.
“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,” according to USA Today.
The case of Khaby Lame represents a significant milestone in President Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda, demonstrating that no one is beyond the reach of immigration law regardless of fame or fortune. As the administration continues to implement stricter enforcement policies, this high-profile detention sends a clear message about the government’s priorities and approach to immigration violations. For social media influencers operating in the United States, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining proper immigration status while working in America.
