Donald Trump had a fiery exchange with a journalist as he told him ‘I’ve never heard of you’ after being confronted over an alleged 'photoshopped' image.
In an interview to mark his 100th day in office, the US president was asked by ABC News if he would uphold an order to 'facilitate the return' of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a 29-year-old from El Salvador who was deported from the US in March.
The Supreme Court ruled that Garcia was deported in error and that the government should help him return to his home in Maryland.
Trump and his administration, however, have accused Garcia of being a member of the Salvadorian gang MS-13.
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On Tuesday (29 April), ABC news anchor and senior national correspondent Terry Moran asked Trump in the Oval Office if he was going to 'comply' with the order.
It's safe to say that the conversation took an awkward turn. Watch below:
“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 said after claiming that Garcia 'is not an innocent, wonderful gentleman from Maryland'.
The president insisted Garcia has 'MS-13' tattooed on his knuckles, while people on social media, have argued that it's been digitally altered in photos.
His lawyers have also maintained he's not MS-13 and is yet to be charged with or convicted of a crime.
Moran pointed this out to Trump before trying to move on to another topic.
“Wait a minute, wait a minute. He had MS-13 on his knuckles,” Trump replied. “It says MS-13.”
“That was Photoshopped,” Moran responded before Trump said: “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.”
Although Moran tried to move the conversation on, the president continued: “Do you want me to show you the picture?”
Moran said 'I saw the picture' and that he could see why it was 'interpreted that way... I want to turn to Ukraine'.
“No, no, no, no,” Trump went on. “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?”
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News
Anish Vij