Donald Trump had a heated exchange with a reporter in a sit-down interview, after the journalist questioned him over a reportedly photoshopped image.
The fiery exchange happened as Trump marked his 100th day in office in an interview with ABC News, where senior national correspondent Terry Moran questioned him over the deportation case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a 29-year-old man from El Salvador.
Garcia, who was deported in March, had his case brought before the Supreme Court, which ruled his removal was a mistake and ordered the government to help facilitate his return to Maryland.
But Trump wasn’t having it. He and his administration have claimed Garcia is tied to the infamous MS-13 gang — despite Garcia’s lawyers denying the allegation and pointing out that he has never been charged or convicted of any crime.
Moran pressed the issue in the Oval Office, asking the president if he would “comply” with the Supreme Court's order.
“Well, the lawyer that said it was a mistake was here a long time, was not appointed by us, should not have said that, should not have said that,” Trump replied. He added that Garcia “is not an innocent, wonderful gentleman from Maryland.”
Then came the controversial detail: Trump insisted Garcia has “MS-13” tattooed on his knuckles — a claim that social media users quickly disputed as possibly doctored.
Moran pointed out the photo in question may have been altered.
“Wait a minute, wait a minute. He had MS-13 on his knuckles,” Trump pushed back. “It says MS-13.”
“That was Photoshopped,” Moran said.
Trump hit back: “They’re giving you the big break of a lifetime, you know, you’re doing the interview.
“I picked you because, frankly, I never heard of you, but that’s OK.”
Moran attempted to steer the interview in a new direction, but Trump doubled down.
“Do you want me to show you the picture?” he asked.
“I saw the picture,” Moran replied. “I want to turn to Ukraine.”
Still, Trump wouldn’t let it go.
“No, no, no, no,” he continued. “He had ‘MS,’ as clear as you can be, not interpreted… This is why people no longer believe the news.
“Why don't you just say, ‘Yes, he does,’ and you know, go on to something else?”
Previously, Judge Paula Xinis of the U.S. District Court issued a fiery ruling condemning the Justice Department’s foot-dragging.
“For weeks, Defendants have sought refuge behind vague and unsubstantiated assertions of privilege... That ends now,” she wrote. “If Defendants want to preserve their privilege claims, they must support them with the required detail.”
The court-mandated updates on Abrego Garcia’s status were inconsistent and troubling. Despite reports he was moved from El Salvador's notorious CECOT prison to a lower-security facility on April 9, U.S. government officials continued to list him as detained at CECOT days later.
“Every day Mr. Abrego Garcia is detained in CECOT is another date of irreparable harm,” Xinis said, ordering depositions and expedited discovery from Trump administration officials with knowledge of the case.
Senator Chris Van Hollen met with Abrego Garcia recently and confirmed he’s now in “good conditions and in an excellent state of health,” according to the U.S. Embassy.