U.S. President Donald Trump is facing scrutiny after insisting that an image of an MS-13 tattoo on deported Maryland resident Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s knuckles was not digitally altered, despite claims to the contrary. The assertion was made during a tense exchange with ABC News correspondent Terry Moran in the Oval Office on Tuesday.
Debate Over Tattoo Image Authenticity
During the interview, Moran questioned Trump about Abrego Garcia, a Maryland father who was deported despite being granted protected status by an immigration judge. Trump maintained that the image showed “MS-13” clearly tattooed on Abrego Garcia’s knuckles.
Moran responded by citing a published image in which “MS-13” was digitally added. Administration officials later stated that the actual tattoos consisted of numbers and letters interpreted as symbols associated with MS-13.
“That was Photoshopped,” Moran stated.
Trump, visibly frustrated, pushed back: “That was Photoshopped? Terry, they’re giving you the big break of a lifetime. You’re doing the interview. I picked you because, frankly, I’d never heard of you, but that’s OK. You’re not being very nice.”
Social Media Mocks Trump’s Claims
The exchange quickly spread across social media, where users ridiculed Trump for refusing to acknowledge the image alteration. Many criticized his insistence, questioning his motivations.
“He’s gaslighting hard—disconnecting his base from reality. The more detached they are, the more they rely on him to define what’s real. This is cult-level manipulation,” wrote one user.
Another commented: “Trump can’t differentiate between a real photo and one that’s clearly been edited.”
Trump Doubles Down on MS-13 Affiliation Claims
Despite the criticism, Trump continued to stand by his position. Earlier this month, he posed with an image of Abrego Garcia’s altered tattoo in the Oval Office and posted the photo on Truth Social.
“This is the hand of the man that the Democrats feel should be brought back to the United States, because he is such ‘a fine and innocent person.’ They said he is not a member of MS-13, even though he’s got MS-13 tattooed onto his knuckles, and two Highly Respected Courts found that he was a member of MS-13, beat up his wife, etc. I was elected to take bad people out of the United States, among other things. I must be allowed to do my job. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
The controversy remains a focal point in discussions surrounding misinformation, media integrity, and immigration policy—issues that continue to shape the American political landscape.