Overview

• During an ABC News interview, President Trump repeatedly claimed Kilmar Abrego Garcia had 'MS-13' tattooed on his knuckles, a claim debunked by fact-checkers and disputed during the interview.
• PolitiFact and other outlets confirmed the photo Trump referenced was digitally altered to include 'MS-13' lettering above Garcia’s tattoos of symbols like a marijuana leaf and a skull.
• DEA nominee Terrance Cole testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee that Garcia’s tattoos are 'consistent' with MS-13 associations, fueling further debate over their meaning.
• Federal judges have ruled the government’s evidence of Garcia’s alleged MS-13 membership as weak, affirming his right to due process following his wrongful deportation.
• The controversy highlights tensions between the White House’s narrative, media fact-checking, and ongoing legal and diplomatic efforts to secure Garcia’s return from El Salvador.