
Trump Sparks Confusion Over ‘Photoshopped’ MS-13 Tattoo Claims on Deported Father
A wave of confusion has erupted following former President Donald Trump’s controversial remarks about MS-13 tattoos allegedly found on a deported father. During an April 29 interview with ABC News veteran Terry Moran, Trump reflected on the first 100 days of his presidential return, highlighting the case of Kilmar Armando Ábrego García—a Maryland father deported as part of a group of 250 alleged criminals to El Salvador’s notorious Center for Terrorism Confinement (CECOT), often described as the “world’s worst prison.”
While Ábrego García insists he has no gang ties, Trump took to Truth Social to share an image of the man’s tattooed hand, claiming it clearly displayed “MS-13” inked across his knuckles. The post has fueled debate, with many questioning whether the photo had been altered, leaving the public puzzled and demanding answers.

Trump’s Tattoo Claims on Deported Father Spark Backlash and Photoshop Allegations
Donald Trump is facing mounting scrutiny after claiming a deported Maryland father bore tattoos linking him to the violent MS-13 gang—allegations many now dismiss as misleading and potentially fabricated.
During his April 29 interview with ABC News veteran Terry Moran, Trump defended the deportation of Kilmar Armando Ábrego García, who was sent to El Salvador’s notorious Center for Terrorism Confinement (CECOT). Trump claimed the father had “MS-13” tattooed on his knuckles, interpreting a marijuana leaf as the letter “M,” a smiley face as an “S,” and alleging a skull covered the number 13.
Experts quickly pushed back. One anonymous gang intervention activist with 25 years of experience said they had “never seen a tattoo like this” used by MS-13 members. Moran added fuel to the fire, asserting that the image Trump shared appeared to be “photoshopped,” noting that the characters “M S 1 3” had seemingly been added digitally above the tattoos.
Trump doubled down during the interview, saying:
“And you think it was photoshopped? Don’t Photoshop it, go look at his hand. No, no, Terry. He had MS as clear as you can be—not interpreted.”
He then turned his frustration toward the media, calling the reporting “fake news” and insisting:
“Terry, he has MS-13 on his knuckles. Okay? You do such a disservice. Why don’t you just say ‘yes he does’ and go onto something else?”
Online, reactions were swift and biting. One Reddit user wrote, “Dude gave him a million chances to not look like an absolute idiot lol.” Another added, “His supporters believe everything he’s saying… There’s a significant portion that hears this and doesn’t think anything is off.”
A photo of Ábrego García’s right hand—shared after the interview—appears to contradict Trump’s claim, clearly showing that the alleged “M S 1 3” markings are not present.

Watch the full interview here: