Trump asserts that a photo of Abrego Garcia’s MS-13 hand tattoo is genuine and not altered in any way.

In a recent interview on ABC News, former President Donald Trump made controversial claims regarding Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man who was deported to El Salvador in March 2025. Trump asserted that Abrego Garcia had tattoos on his knuckles identifying him as a member of the violent street gang MS-13. This assertion has come under scrutiny due to the emergence of a potentially misleading image that has circulated online, raising questions about the veracity of Trump’s statement.

During the interview, Trump insisted that the imagery he referenced clearly displayed “MS-13” tattooed on Abrego Garcia’s knuckles. However, ABC News interviewer Terry Moran informed Trump that the image in question had been manipulated. Despite Moran’s attempts to divert the conversation to other pressing topics, including the conflict in Ukraine and the U.S. economy, Trump persisted in discussing Abrego Garcia’s supposed gang affiliation.

The issue is compounded by Abrego Garcia’s background. He was deported under what the Trump administration acknowledged as an “administrative error,” and he has never been convicted of a crime. His wife has publicly defended him, claiming that he is not affiliated with any gang. The portrayal of Abrego Garcia as a violent criminal persists, however, bolstered by the former president and his supporters.

Following the heated exchange, reports suggested that even Fox News, a network often aligned with Trump’s views, acknowledged that the president may have been misled by the doctored photograph. This finding reflected a growing concern among various media outlets regarding the accuracy of the claims being made about Abrego Garcia.

Fact-checking organizations, including Snopes, have indicated that while the image shared by Trump was edited to include text attributing gang affiliation to Abrego Garcia, it does not substantiate any connection between him and MS-13. Multiple outlets have examined additional photographs of Abrego Garcia that appear to lack the tattoos in question altogether.

The broader implications of this interview extend beyond Abrego Garcia’s individual case, touching on the current climate of political discourse and media credibility. Trump’s history of disseminating unverified claims has raised alarms over misinformation and has sparked vigorous debates about the responsibilities of both leaders and media in ensuring accurate representation of facts.

As Trump continues his campaign for a potential return to the presidency, these incidents underscore the tensions between fact and perception, highlighting the challenges of navigating public opinion in an era dominated by digital media and rapid information dissemination. The case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia illustrates the complexities of immigration, identity, and the ramifications of political rhetoric that resonates across various platforms and populations.

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