British comedian Dom Joly has publicly stated that his application to travel to the United States was rejected, which he attributes directly to his outspoken criticism of former President Donald Trump on social media.
Social Media History Under Scrutiny
The star of Trigger Happy TV revealed the situation during a guest hosting slot on Times Radio. He explained that he believes he is "not allowed in the US" because of what he termed his "anti-Trumpisms" posted online. Joly told listeners, "Because of my social media anti-Trumpisms, I don't think I'd be allowed in."
He added that many people he knows are feeling apprehensive about travelling to the US, not due to safety concerns but over whether they will be granted entry. This comes as the US government, under policies championed by Donald Trump, is planning to ask tourists for five years of their social media history. This would apply even to citizens from visa-waiver countries like the UK, who normally only need an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA).
A Pattern of Direct Criticism
Joly has criticised the Republican figure on numerous occasions. Notably, during Trump's state visit to the UK in September, Joly posted a video on Facebook of the reception at Windsor Castle. The caption read, "I mean what??? Just what???? We are doomed…#trump." In the video, he is heard saying, "What the f*** is this? It's just insane. Look at this sex abuser."
The following day, in another video, he referred to Trump as the "orange s*** gibbon." More recently, he posted a parody video of a taxi ride through London, mocking Trump's past comments on crime in the capital by calling it "Incredibly dangerous road trip through Trump’s hellscape London."
New Travel Rules and Wider Implications
While the exact details are still to be finalised, it is believed the proposed US border rules could require visitors to hand over:
- All social media usernames used in the past five years.
- Associated email addresses and phone numbers.
- Names, birthdays, and contact details of immediate family members.
On his radio show, Joly suggested travellers might need to take a "burner phone" to navigate these checks. He also recounted a previous odd experience with the ESTA process, where listing "speaking French" as an interest prompted officials to ask him why he spoke the language.
The proposed security measures are part of a broader push to toughen US border controls. Donald Trump has stated the aim is to ensure safety and security, saying, "We want to make sure we're not letting the wrong people come enter our country." The plans are being discussed ahead of the US hosting the World Cup in 2026.
The Daily Mail has approached representatives for Dom Joly and US border and customs officials for comment on his specific case.
