Trump Argues With ABC's Terry Moran About Photoshopped Image: 'He Had MS-13 On His Knuckles Tattooed!'

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: MEDIAite

Apr 29th, 2025, 9:54 pm


President Donald Trump spent nearly two minutes arguing that a photoshopped image was real during an interview with ABC News on Tuesday.

During a discussion about the deportation of illegal immigrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia, Trump referenced a photograph of Garcia’s knuckles, which showed his real tattoos – a marijuana leaf, a smiley face, a cross, and a skull – below the letters “MS13,” which had been edited on.

While the photo attempted to make the case that the symbols on Garcia’s hand were code for “MS-13,” Trump appeared to take the edited letters literally, believing that they had also been tattooed onto Garcia’s knuckles. “You’ll pick out one man, but even the man that you picked out, he said he wasn’t a member of a gang, and then they looked and on his knuckles he had MS-13,” said Trump during the interview.

After ABC News’ Terry Moran replied, “There’s dispute of that,” the interview devolved into an argument:

Trump: Wait a minute, he had “MS-13” on his knuckles tattooed!

Moran: He had some tattoos that are interpreted that way, but let’s move on.

Trump: Wait a minute. Hey, Terry. Terry. Terry. Don’t do that.

Moran: He did not have the letter “MS-13.”

Trump: It says “MS-13.”

Moran: That was photoshopped.

Trump: That was photoshopped? Terry, you can’t do that. They’ve given you the big break of a lifetime. You know, you’re doing the interview. I picked you because, frankly, I had never heard of you, but that’s okay. But I picked you, Terry, but you’re not being very nice. He had “MS-13” tattooed. Terry. Terry. Do you want me to show you the picture?

Moran: I saw the picture.

Trump: And you think it was photoshopped? Well, don’t photoshop it, go look at his hand. He had “MS-13.”

Moran: He did have tattoos that can be interpreted that way. I’m not an expert on them.

Read more: https://www.mediaite.com/tv/trump-argues-with-abcs-terry-moran-about-photoshopped-image-he-had-ms-13-on-his-knuckles-tattooed/

---

This is the problem that was brought up in the OP for this story when it was initially reported, with some of us pointing out that THIS is how he is promoting this fraud - that the "MS 13" in the photo that he held up, was an actual tattoo (and his zombie followers, as well as those who don't really follow politics, will believe it) -

Trump Touts Seemingly Doctored Photo of Abrego Garcia's Hand in Attempt To Prove Maryland Man Is Gang Member

[underpants]

1. Rated: Pants on 🔥

https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2025/apr/30/donald-trump/trump-abrego-garcia-hand-tattoos-abc-news/

[cadoman]

23. too many are falling for the trap

He is tricking you into showing the tattoos and talking about them.

Now when other young LatinX men have similar tattoos, people will make assumptions. Not good.

[underpants]

32. Seeing it all over X

To many this is the ironclad truth

[Prof. Toru Tanaka]

2. It is obvious MS-13 was photoshopped.

The other tattoos are angled because of the curve of Garcia’s fingers. The letters and numbers of MS-13 are straight on to the viewer even as the part of the hand curves away.

Trump was pissed off because the interviewer wouldn’t “knuckle under” and agree with him. “But I picked you, Terry but you’re not being very nice.”

[Jrose]

6. Also, the color of the letters 'M S 13' are black, digitally 'typed' over

while the original actual symbols are curved, faded gray and a bit smudged.

[Javaman]

7. wait, he's claiming that those letters and numbers are really a part of the photo????

I thought this was his admins way of "decoding" the symbols on his fingers with those added letters and numbers.

holy shit.

he should have just used his sharpie LOL

[Prof. Toru Tanaka]

10. "He should have just used his sharpie."

Great comment!

Also, kudos to the posts that brought up the point about the other tattoos being faded and smudged. If they are going to try photoshopping to prove their point, at least get someone who can do good job. This is just another example of the stupidity and shortsightedness of Trump’s “best and brightest”.

[Wiz Imp]

36. Yep. He sure is.

So much for all the people here who said Trump wasn't saying the MS13 was an actual tattoo but was just added to show what the tattoos meant. It never ceases to amaze me how many people (even in a place like this) are willing to believe Trump is not one of the stupidest people on the planet. It was clear at the time he posted it that he believe the MS13 was actually tattooed on the hand.

[electric_blue68]

53. I know, right? 😄

It looks like actually "presstype, Letraset" letters (which I used back in the day). Except putting those on knuckles would probably break them up bc of the cutves.

[Bengus81]

49. More than obvious....it's fucking LAUGHABLE. Hell a ten year old with a paint program

(no you don't need Photo Shop) could do that phony looking BS in five minutes.

[Luvcatz14]

51. I could do better in PowerPoint

[electric_blue68]

54. Yup! 😄 Its Only funny bc of how badly it's done!

[TheRickles]

62. The video of him meeting with Senator van Hollen clearly showed no such MS-13 tattoo.

The other symbols were there, but not this added label that Trump is talking about. Starts around the 1:10 mark:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=kDhl2qgneVk&ab_channel=ABC7News-WJLA|

[sop]

3. Moran is being so deferential, apologetically trying to say Trump is...go anead, Terry, just say it...A FUCKING LIAR!

[Wiz Imp]

37. I give Moran credit for explicitly telling Trump he was wrong

and repeating it several times when Trump objected. How many "journalists" have we seen who have given even 1/10 the pushback Moran gave here?

[LymphocyteLover]

4. OMFG, he's so fucking delusional and dumb!!!

I want to scream, laugh, cry

[Itchinjim]

5. Moran vs. Moron.

[mackdaddy]

8. And he had a cook book for how to prepare Dog and Cat Tacos.

'They are Eating the Dogs!'
'They are Eating the Cats!'

Moron for sure.

[Janeyre]

9. I see it differently.

I think Moran really held his feet to the fire and pushed him in ways that other journalists have not. Moran was gracious when he needed to be, took Trump's insults and let them slide off his back. Cut thru that lying tub of butter like a hot knife. My family was yellIng "go TERRY." I like Muir but he was way too gracious.
Welker, all the rest? Way too scared of Trump. I"m surprised that there haven't been more comments all over social media. Moran went toe to toe with the lying ass and really pushed him. I loved it.

[Wiz Imp]

38. Yep. Moran pushed back while other journalists have refused to do so.

[k_buddy762]

11. Wow

Are people actually this obtuse?

Of course the actual characters "m" and "s" and "1" and "3" (and also the words directly below each symbol) were placed there by a graphics editing software of some sort. They are meant to "translate" the actual symbols and what they (are suspected) to mean. Do the symbols actually translate to "MS13?" I guess only the person who has the tattoos can attest to that, but gangs of all sorts have long been known to hide the actual meaning of tattoos by encoding them with symbology such as this. If that's what the DOJ is attesting, then they need to be transparent about it. But then you'll see gang members across the nation getting tattoos covered up so they aren't so readily identified.

I can't believe there is a single human on earth who actually believes they are trying to get anyone to think the "M" and "S" and "1" and "3" are actually on the man's skin.

[BumRushDaShow]

12. The idiots "who would believe it" are the same ones who elected him in the first place

after knowing what happened during the first term and despite all the warnings that were put out there by every means possible.

[Prairie Gates]

14. But that's what Trump is saying

I can't believe there is a single human on earth who actually believes they are trying to get anyone to think the "M" and "S" and "1" and "3" are actually on the man's skin.

Moran is arguing that the letters were put on the picture to translate the tattoos. Trump is saying that the letters are actually on the man's skin.

[k_buddy762]

19. But Trump is an idiot

and I know very few people who actually take anything he says seriously. 99% of what comes out of his mouth is meant to confuse and distract. He is not a serious person when a camera or the press is around. All of his actual moves occur behind closed doors, in private.

[Prairie Gates]

20. Huh?

Is this one of those "Take him seriously, not literally" posts?

What in the world?

[k_buddy762]

22. I don't take him seriously at all

he's a con man running a con. The people who he has working for him are a bigger problem.

[Wiz Imp]

40. Approximately 1/3 of the population of this country not only take what Trump says

seriously, they take it as GOSPEL TRUTH!

[rickyhall]

50. Who I've called The Crazy Third for decades.

[SouthBayDem]

25. What QANON and Pizzagate do to a populace.

People work backwards from conclusion they want to reach.

[Wiz Imp]

39. Well, you may have an argument about whether Trump is actually human or not

But he is absolutely claiming that MS13 is tattooed on the guy's skin.

[Jughead]

13. My God

A 6 year old could do a better photoshop job.

[Wiz Imp]

41. My CAT could do a better photoshop job!

[Jrose]

15. Just as DJT falsely accused the Central Park Five of

being a violent gang who raped a woman decades ago and demanded their execution.
In DJT's view, people of color are always guilty until proven innocent. Not surprisingly, DJT never admitted he was wrong nor did he apologize for his accusations and defamation of those men.

[Ray Bruns]

16. After watching that interview, all I can say is

https://m.

[Torchlight]

17. Looks like a staffer got his hands on MS Paint from a Windows 95 machine.

They believe their fanbase is dumber than they are. They may be right.

[marble falls]

18. Photo-shopped. And a clumsy job of it, too.

[Hieronymus Phact]

21. A Simple solution to this

bring him back to the US and have a look at his hands!

[Justice matters.]

43. And his face.

And his face "connected" to "his" knucles. Otherwise, it could be anyone's tatoos.

Besides that, where is the evidence "without any reasonable doubt" that he committed a crime?

It's like all the other demented mad king's bull chit. He wants people to believe what he says without any proof.

[Hieronymus Phact]

45. The problem is

Half the country already believes what he says without any proof!

[mwb970]

24. The stupid, it burns.

[dweller]

26. I had never heard of you ...

No one , anywhere ever has heard of him



He wanted the French guy , Pierre Tomas




✌🏻

[John1956PA]

27. Serious question. What is the technical term for the overlays?

The the added markers, indicators or overlays were inserted into the photo as a means to help the viewer of the photo interpret the tattood symbols. The fact that they were inserted into the image and the fact they are designed as an interpretation aid are obvious to anyone with a basic high school education.

There has to be term used for them. I do not think that "annotations" fits. I do not like the work "photoshop" being used in this case because it is used in situations wherein there is an attempt to deceive.

[Wiz Imp]

42. Photoshop or not

Trump made it clear he believes the "overlays" were part of the original photo and that the MS13 is tattooed directly on the man's hand.

And given that we don't know who did this, we don't really know for sure the reason that person inserted the MS13. You're making a very big assumption they did it as an interpretation tool. Maybe they did, but there is no proof of that.

[Lemon Lyman]

28. So stupid

Watch that psycho president bukake actually tattoo that on Garcia's hand now.

[multigraincracker]

29. To Contenue...

Click on tattoos that are not like any of the others.

[tanyev]

30. Any German speakers here? There are so many times I wonder if German was his 1st language,

Last edited Wed Apr 30, 2025, 02:26 PM - Edit history (1)

even though I don’t see how it could have been. The construction of that first sentence about the tattoo is so awkward, but it vaguely reminded me of high school German class.

I typed the more common English structure “He had a bird tattoed on his knuckles” into an online translator and the German version came up as “er hatte einen Vogel auf seine Fingerknöchel tätowiert” which is literally “He had a bird on his knuckles tattooed”—Trump’s exact wording.

And then there’s his love of unnecessary capitalization—all nouns are capitalized in German. What’s going on here?

[BumRushDaShow]

31. DFW is living in Germany at the moment and is fluent (his wife is German)

so maybe he'll see your post and pop in.

[republianmushroom]

33. And trump has " MASTER PUTIN" tattooed on his ass.

[Cirsium]

34. Trump won that interaction

As usual with Trump and the rest of his mob, they win every interaction with journalists. He just rolls over that interview. Of course, we know he is lying, but that makes absolutely no difference. We are not the ones he is trying to reach.

[Wiz Imp]

44. Nope. Even many of his supporters know that the MS13 isn't tattooed directly on the guy's hand

For Trump to insist it was made him look like the idiot he is to everyone including his supporters. No way for them to defend him on this. All they can do is try to ignore it. No way it was a win for him.

[Cirsium]

46. I doubt that very much

Why and how would his supporters know that the MS13 isn't tattooed directly on the guy's hand?

[Wiz Imp]

47. Here's an article from Breitbart and the author clearly acknowledges MS13 isn't tattooed dirctly n the hand

but rather that is what the actual tattoos stand for. If you scan through the comments ( ) you will see plenty of people supporting the article - "of course the MS13 in the picture is just labels to show what the real tattoos mean". I didn't even say most Trump supporters would acknowledge that MS13 isn't really on the guys hand, just that many do, and this proves it.

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/04/18/trump-posts-photo-of-illegal-aliens-knuckle-tattoos-amid-ms-13-charges/

Sure, Trump supporters are stupid in general but some of them are at least smart enough to look at that picture and know that MS13 is not tattooed directly on the guy's hand.

[Cirsium]

48. OK

I don't know what that tells us. For example, Vance said "well they might not actually be eating the cats and dogs in Springfield, BUT..." and that didn't change any Trump supporters' opinion about it. In other words, the interviewer didn't win even when Vance admitted it wasn't literally true. It doesn't matter if they are lying about the details, there is a bigger message that is working. "These immigrants are different, strange, they are a threat, and Democrats are coddling them and defending them and have some nefarious purpose for doing so." Saying that they aren't actually eating pets, or don't actually have "MS 13" tattooed on their hand is completely ineffective. It is all a distraction, and it works.

I think they see the lying to reporters as a way to "own" the reporter and to own us. They are right about that. They win those transactions. By "win" I mean they buttress their base of support and they get the reactions from us and from the press that they want and that they can use against us.

We debunk all of Trump's lies, the 20,000 or whatever we are up to now, but we fail to successfully challenge the main narrative. To do so would require a much more aggressive and radical approach.

[Oneironaut]

35. Yes, but, Trump is entitled to alternate facts /s

In Trump’s world, he did have MS-13 on his knuckles. We must accept that this is merely an example of alternate facts, which can be just as true as real facts, even if they aren’t true.

[Blues Heron]

52. Trump knows they are photoshopped, he's just gaslighting. It's what he does, he never breaks character.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

55. Politifact- President Donald Trump says Kilmar Abrego Garcia has "'MS-13' on his knuckles." Pants on Fire!

trump is caught in yet another lie

PolitiFact
Trump stated yesterday in ABC interview: Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia “had ‘MS-13’ on his knuckles tattooed. He had ‘MS’ as clear as you can be. Not 'interpreted.’”
Pants on Fire!
They don’t appear in other photos including one shared by Salvadoran government--and more

Link to tweet

In an interview with ABC News’ Terry Moran, President Donald Trump doubled and tripled down on whether deportee Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia has MS13, representing the MS-13 gang, tattooed on his knuckles. Trump cited an altered image as evidence.

https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2025/apr/30/donald-trump/trump-abrego-garcia-hand-tattoos-abc-news/

Our ruling
Trump said Abrego Garcia "had ‘MS-13’ on his knuckles tattooed. … He had ‘MS’ as clear as you can be. Not 'interpreted.’"

The figures M, S, 1 and 3 and the words below the symbols don’t appear in other photographs of Abrego Garcia’s hand, including one shared by the Salvadoran government.

Experts in MS-13 and other gangs say the pictorial tattoos shown are not typical designs for MS-13 or other gangs, and they say that several of those tattoos are commonly used by people unaffiliated with gangs.

We rate the statement Pants on Fire!

[BumRushDaShow]

56. Everything that comes outta his mouth

is a flaming dumpster fire!

[kimbutgar]

57. I wish someone would ask the orange Hitler if would swear on the Bible he is 100% sure that it was Kilmars

Hand ?

[BumRushDaShow]

58. He didn't even swear on the bibles presented to him

at his 2nd Inauguration.

[kimbutgar]

59. And I have to wonder how those MAGAloon christofascists still worship this false prophet

Who will end up in hell with his leader Satan!

[BumRushDaShow]

60. He unleashed their hate and anger

which is why they love him.

[Fiendish Thingy]

61. As Bugs Bunny used to say:

What a Maroon!

[LetMyPeopleVote]

63. Trump is lying

Link to tweet