Fact Check: Is photo of tattooed hand Trump shared linking Kilmar Abrego Garcia to MS-13 gang edited?

The photo, which is allegedly of Kilmar Abrego Garcia's tattooed hand, was used by Donald Trump to show his links with the violent Salvadoran MS-13 gang
PUBLISHED APR 25, 2025
President Donald Trump sparked debate online after he shared an image allegedly proving Kilmar Abrego Garcia's ties to the notorious Salvadoran gang MS-13 (X/@realDonaldTrump)
President Donald Trump sparked debate online after he shared an image allegedly proving Kilmar Abrego Garcia's ties to the notorious Salvadoran gang MS-13 (X/@realDonaldTrump)

WASHINGTON, DC: A recent social media post by President Donald Trump has stirred controversy as people online are questioning the authenticity of an image he recently shared. 

The photo, which appears to show Kilmar Abrego Garcia's tattooed hand, is being used to claim his affiliation with the violent Salvadoran MS-13 gang. 

U.S. President Donald Trump walks onto the field prior to Super Bowl LIX between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles at Caesars Superdome on February 09, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump walks onto the field before Super Bowl LIX between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles at Caesars Superdome on February 9, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

While Trump's post quickly gained traction, doubts about its accuracy continue to circulate. Here's a closer look at the viral image and find out whether it is fact or fiction?

Claim: Is Donald Trump's photo linking Kilmar Abrego Garcia to MS-13 edited?



 

A social media post by US President Donald Trump on April 18, 2025, has sparked debate after he shared an image allegedly proving Kilmar Abrego Garcia's ties to the notorious Salvadoran gang MS-13.

The photo, posted on both X and Truth Social, shows Trump holding a piece of paper displaying what he claims is a photo of Abrego Garcia’s hand tattoos—presented as evidence of his gang affiliation.

Following Trump’s post, several users circulated a cropped version of the image, focusing closely on the tattoos, intensifying scrutiny over the authenticity and intent behind the post.

Fact Check: Image of Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s hand shared by Donald Trump appears to be altered

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 16: U.S. President Donald Trump looks on before he delivers remarks during an Easter Prayer Service and Dinner in the Blue Room of the White House on April 16, 2025 in Washington, DC. Christians across the globe will celebrate Easter on Sunday, April 20. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump looks on before he delivers remarks during an Easter Prayer Service and Dinner in the Blue Room of the White House on April 16, 2025, in Washington, DC (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

According to the image shared by the 47th POTUS, Kilmar Abrego Garcia appears to have four tattoos on his knuckles: a marijuana leaf, a smiley face, a cross, and a skull. These tattoos have been verified through sources like USA Today and CASA.

However, the version of the image shared by Trump also includes the letters "MS13" and labeled descriptions of each tattoo—details that do not appear in the original photos. This strongly suggests that parts of the image were digitally altered, fact-checking site Snopes confirmed.

Experts on gang tattoos note that MS-13 members typically have distinct identifiers such as “MS” or “13” visibly tattooed on their bodies.

Since no such markings are present on Abrego Garcia, the claim that his tattoos confirm gang affiliation lacks credible evidence, the outlet reported.

ICE has not produced any proof to support the accusation, and experts were also unable to verify any connection between his tattoos and MS-13.

Regardless of the allegations, Abrego Garcia is legally entitled to due process under the US Constitution. On April 10, the Supreme Court ordered the Trump administration to facilitate his return to the United States—but as of now, that directive has not been fulfilled.

Who is Kilmar Abrego Garcia?

(Getty Images, NBC News)
Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident who illegally immigrated from El Salvador in 2012, was mistakenly detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement after President Donald Trump's executive order to round up illegal immigrants (Getty Images and NBC News)

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident who illegally immigrated from El Salvador in 2012, was mistakenly detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on March 12, 2025, as per Snopes.

According to CASA, the immigration advocacy group supporting his legal case, Abrego Garcia had no criminal record in either the United States or El Salvador.

In fact, a judge had ruled in 2019 that he should not be deported due to the risk of persecution in his home country.

Despite this ruling, just three days after his detention, the US government deported him to El Salvador and sent him to the country's high-security Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) without a hearing. 

U.S. President Donald Trump listens during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on February 26, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump is holding the first Cabinet meeting of his second term, joined by Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump listens during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on February 26, 2025, in Washington, DC (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

The Trump administration later admitted that his detention and deportation were the result of an “administrative error.” 

However, even after acknowledging the mistake, officials continued to insist that the decision to send him to the Salvadoran mega-prison was justified because of alleged ties to the MS-13 gang.

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