Conservative Influencer Bo Loudon Claims Credit For Khaby Lame Detainment

Introduction to the Controversy

Conservative influencer and friend of President Donald Trump’s son Barron, Bo Loudon, claimed credit for TikTok star Khaby Lame’s detainment by immigration officers, stating he reported the Senegalese-Italian creator to authorities before Lame was forced to leave the country.

Key Facts

Loudon, 18, claimed in a post on X he “worked with Trump’s ICE to have [Lame] removed” from the United States, stating he “discovered he was an illegal who overstayed an invalid VISA.” In other posts, Loudon slammed Lame as a “far-left TikTok star,” though Lame does not post political content and his political views are unclear. Lame, 25, was detained by ICE at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas on Friday, a Department of Homeland Security official told Forbes, for “overstaying the terms of his visa.” Lame was granted voluntary departure, which allows immigrants to avoid a deportation order, and has since left the United States, the DHS official said, though they did not specify where Lame went. Lame was born in Senegal and moved to Turin, Italy, with his family as an infant, and he is an Italian citizen, according to DHS.

Where Is Khaby Lame Now?

Lame’s exact whereabouts are unclear, but since the weekend, he has posted multiple Instagram stories with the location tagged as São Paulo, Brazil. Early Wednesday, Lame posted a video to his Instagram from a soccer game in São Paulo. He has not addressed being detained by ICE on his social media profiles.

Who Is Khaby Lame?

Lame is the most-followed person on TikTok, with more than 162 million followers. He boasts large followings elsewhere, including 80 million Instagram followers and 12.5 million YouTube subscribers. Lame rose to fame as a TikTok creator after he lost his job during the COVID-19 pandemic, during which time he began posting content mocking absurd “life hack” videos and other comedic bits. He has held the title of most-followed TikTok user since June 2022, when he surpassed creator and dancer Charli D’Amelio. Weeks before being detained, Lame attended the Met Gala in New York.

Who Is Bo Loudon?

Loudon is a conservative influencer with hundreds of thousands of followers on his TikTok, Instagram and X profiles. Loudon has said Barron Trump, 18, is his “best friend,” and he is a regular visitor of the Trump family’s Mar-a-Lago property, according to pictures shared on his Instagram. Loudon has claimed on X that he and Barron helped connect Trump with influencers as part of an effort to reach Gen Z voters, including Adin Ross and Bryce Hall. Loudon is the son of Gina Loudon, a conservative commentator who co-chaired the Women for Trump organization in 2020, and John William Loudon, a former Missouri state senator.

Tangent

Lame’s detainment comes amid growing protests targeting ICE across the United States, particularly in Los Angeles, where protests broke out over the weekend after authorities detained dozens of immigrants. Trump has clashed with Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass over his decision to send National Guard troops to quell protests against officials’ wishes. National Guard troops have already arrived in the city, and Trump has ordered hundreds of Marines to the city, which could reportedly arrive as soon as Tuesday. Officials and some legal scholars have challenged Trump’s authority to mobilize the National Guard, though Trump reportedly said in a memo he had invoked Title 10, which permits the president to call on the National Guard if the U.S. is “invaded or is in danger of invasion by a foreign nation” or if “there is a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States.” Since protests broke out in Los Angeles, more demonstrations have taken place in cities including New York, Dallas and Atlanta.

How Much Does Khaby Lame Earn?

Lame is one of the highest-paid social media creators, according to Forbes estimates. In 2024, Lame ranked tenth on Forbes’ top creators list with estimated earnings of $20 million, achieved through his large social media following and brand deals with Fortnite, Sony Pictures and Walmart. He was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe Arts and Culture list in 2022.

Further Reading

From TikToker Khaby Lame To Fashion’s Future: Meet The Forbes Under 30 Europe Members Transforming Art & Culture (Forbes)
Top Creators 2024 (Forbes)
Los Angeles Protests Live Updates: Trump Claims City ‘Would Be Burning’ Unless Troops Deployed (Forbes)

Conclusion

The detainment of Khaby Lame has sparked controversy and raised questions about the role of immigration authorities in the United States. While Lame’s exact whereabouts are unclear, his large social media following and brand deals have made him one of the highest-paid social media creators. The incident has also highlighted the growing protests targeting ICE across the United States and the ongoing debate over immigration policy.

FAQs

Q: Who is Khaby Lame?
A: Khaby Lame is a Senegalese-Italian social media creator who is the most-followed person on TikTok, with over 162 million followers.
Q: Why was Khaby Lame detained?
A: Lame was detained by ICE at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas for “overstaying the terms of his visa.”
Q: Who claimed credit for Khaby Lame’s detainment?
A: Conservative influencer Bo Loudon claimed credit for Lame’s detainment, stating he reported Lame to authorities before he was forced to leave the country.
Q: How much does Khaby Lame earn?
A: According to Forbes estimates, Lame earned $20 million in 2024, making him one of the highest-paid social media creators.