President Donald Trump has presented what he claims is evidence of a deported father’s alleged gang affiliation. Kilmar Armando Ábrego García, from Maryland, was among over 250 individuals deported to the Center for Terrorism Confinement (CECOT) in El Salvador, which is often described as the ‘world’s worst prison’. This occurred last month.
While the Trump administration acknowledged that an ‘administrative error’ was responsible for García’s deportation to the Central American nation, the 78-year-old Republican leader insists that García is associated with the MS-13 gang.
On Truth Social, Trump posted a photo of himself holding an image purportedly showing García’s hand, captioned: “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 ‘evidence’ provided by Trump to support the claim that García’s deportation was not a mistake appears questionable. The image showing ‘M S 1 3’ allegedly tattooed on García’s knuckles has sparked speculation that it might be digitally altered.
Upon closer inspection, the writing on the hand lacks the typical fading associated with tattoos and appears sharply defined compared to other marks on the skin.
Additionally, a photograph shared by El Salvador’s President, Nayib Bukele, shows García’s hand without the ‘M S 1 3’ inscription.
President Bukele commented: “Kilmar Abrego Garcia, miraculously risen from the ‘death camps’ & ‘torture,’ now sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador!”
On Twitter, one user pointed out the alleged digital manipulation of the image, saying: “MS13 was photoshopped on his hand. Ladies and gentlemen… the President of the United States: a felon using false ‘evidence.'”
Another user stated: “I call bulls***. The MS13 on his hand isn’t even a tattoo. That’s old school photoshop.”
A third user remarked: “Trump photoshopped MS13 on his hand wtf is going on!? It’s like Wag the Dog but without the secrecy!”
Former Minnesota state senator, Linda Higgins, also weighed in, stating: “Hey Old Man, @realDonaldTrump, have someone teach you about Photoshop. This is an excellent example of altering a photo, in this case to make your illegal actions look good. But instead, you look foolish.”