Topline
President Donald Trump insisted Tuesday a photoshopped image of Kilmar Abrego Garcia—who the administration has admitted was mistakenly deported to El Salvador—proves he was an MS-13 gang member, doubling down on a conspiracy the president promoted earlier this month on social media.
President Donald Trump answers questions from members of the media before boarding Marine One on the … More South Lawn of the White House on April 29, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Key Facts
Trump, in a contentious exchange with ABC News’ Terry Moran, insisted that Moran agree with him that Abrego Garcia has “M, S, 1, 3” tattooed above his knuckles, citing an obviously doctored image Trump shared twice on social media earlier this month to prove Abrego Garcia is a member of the gang, despite scant evidence, no criminal record in the U.S. and his lawyers and family members denying any gang affiliation.
“Terry, do you want me to show you the picture? He had M, S, as clear as you can be, not interpreted,” Trump said as Moran tried to change the subject to Ukraine.
The claim stems from tattoos Abrego Garcia has on his knuckles that show a marijuana leaf, a smiley face with “x” over the eyes, a cross and a skull—his tattoos do not include the actual “MS-13” stamp, according to an image El Salvador President Nayib Bukele posted of Abrego Garcia meeting with Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., in El Salvador.
Some social media users have suggested the marijuana leaf represents “M,” the smiley face represents “S” and the cross and skulls are cover-ups for a “1” and “3,” though Trump seemed to insist during Tuesday’s interview the actual letters and numbers were tattooed on Abrego Garcia’s hands.
Trump fueled speculation that there could be hidden meaning behind the tattoos when he posted a photo of himself from the Oval Office holding an image of Abrego Garcia’s hand with “M, S, 1, 3” pasted above each knuckle on April 18 and again on April 21, writing “this is the hand of the man that the Democrats feel should be brought back to the United States.”
The White House, when asked if Trump believes Abrego Garcia actually has “M S 1 3” tattooed on his knuckles, said “ask any law or immigration enforcement official who’s been on the ground about Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s tattoos: they’re MS-13.”
Contra
Some gang experts told CBS it’s unclear whether Abrego Garcia’s tattoos include any MS-13 symbolism. University of Nevada Assistant Professor Robert Lovato said he spoke to current gang members who said they don’t believe Abrego Garcia’s tattoos represent MS-13. Multiple experts noted that symbols used by gangs in tattoos, such as a skull, are also used by the general public.
Crucial Quote
“That was photoshopped? Terry, you can’t do that,” Trump said during the ABC special marking his 100th day in office Tuesday. “He had ‘MS-13’ tattooed. Terry . . . Terry. Do you want me to show you the picture?”
Tangent
Trump told ABC he “could” bring Abrego Garcia back to the U.S., contradicting government lawyers’ claims that the decision rests with El Salvador.
Key Background
Abrego Garcia was deported in March to El Salvador despite a 2019 court order allowing him to stay in the country after a judge found he could be targeted by gangs if he returned to his home country. He was deported because the document Immigration and Customs Enforcement used to determine the final list of deportees slated for one of the March 15 flights to El Salvador did not note his protected status, an ICE official recently admitted in court. A district court judge ordered the Trump administration to return Abrego Garcia to the U.S., and the Supreme Court said the administration must “facilitate” his release, but government lawyers have claimed the decision is in El Salvador’s hands since he is a citizen there and in the custody of the Salvadoran government. El Salvador President Nayib Bukele, meanwhile, has suggested he can’t return Abrego Garcia without U.S. approval. Trump administration officials have pointed to an interview police who detained Abrego Garcia in a Home Depot parking lot in Hyattsville, Maryland, in 2019 conducted with a confidential informant who said Abrego Garcia was a member of the Long Island-based outpost of the gang, despite his lawyers saying he’s never been to New York. The detective also noted in court documents released by the Trump administration that Abrego Garcia was wearing a Chicago Bulls hat and hoodie with rolls of money covering the eyes, ears and mouth of the presidents’ faces printed on the bills, which the detective said is clothing sometimes affiliated with gang culture.
Further Reading
White House Doubles Down On Erroneous Deportation Of Maryland Dad (Forbes)
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Sara Dorn