Trump fell hook, line and sinker again, thinking his staff's doctored photo of Kilmar's hand actually had MS13 on the knuckles. This was in last night's taped ABC interview with Trump.
The doctored photo with MS13 superimposed, along with miniature Marijuana, Smiley, Cross and Three.
Trump wants so much to believe that Kilmar is a criminal, that he can't see what is right before his eyes. Either that, or the man needs glasses. He would be too vain to wear them if he did need them. He's old, and it could be that it's one thing he refuses to admit.
Trump's interview with Terry Moran of ABC proved once again that Trump is convinced that Kilmar is a gang member of MS-13, and the proof is the MS13 photoshopped in on the knuckles.
From ABC's transcript, in which Trump is labeled as PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP and Terry as TERRY MORAN instead of Trump and Moran.
Trump: On his knuckles --- he had MS-13 -—
Moran: Alright. There's a dis --- there's a dispute over that -—
Trump: Well, wait a minute. Wait a minute. He had MS-13 -—
Moran: Well -—
Trump: --- on his knuckles tattooed.
Moran: --- he --- he--- he --- it didn't say --- oh, he had some tattoos that are inper--- interpreted that way. But let's move on
Trump: Wait a minute.
Moran: I want -—
Trump: Hey, Terry, Terry, Terry.
Moran: He --- he did not have the letter ---
Trump: Don't do that --- M-S-1-3 --- It says M-S-one-three.
Moran: I --- that was Photoshop. So let me just -—
Trump: That was Photoshop? Terry, you can't do that --- he --- had --- he --- hey, they're givin' you the big break of a lifetime. You know, you're doin' the interview. I picked you because --- frankly, I never heard of you, but that's okay ---
Moran: This --- I knew this would come -—
Trump: But I picked you --- Terry --- but you're not being very nice. He had MS-13 tattooed -—
Moran: Alright. Alright. We'll agree to disagree. I want to move on -—
Trump: Terry.
Moran: --- to something else.
Trump: Terry. Do you want me to show you the picture?
Moran: I saw the picture. We'll --- we'll --- we'll agree to disagree -—
Trump: Oh, and you think it was Photoshop. Well ---
Moran: Here we go. Here we go.
Trump: --- don't Photoshop it. Go look -—
Moran: Alright.
Trump: --- at his hand. He had MS-13 -—
Moran: Fair enough, he did have tattoos that can be interpreted that way. I'm not an expert on them. I want to turn to Ukraine, sir -—
Trump: No, no. Terry -—
Moran: I --- I want to get to Ukraine -—
Trump: Terry, no, no. No, no. He had MS as clear as you can be. Not "interpreted." This is why people -—
Moran: Alright.
Trump: --- no longer believe -—
Moran: Well.
Trump: --- the news --- because it's fake news-—
Moran: When he was photographed in El Sal --- in --- in --- El Salvador, they aren't there. But let's just go on -—
Trump: He is -—
Moran: They aren't there when he's in El Salvador.
Trump: there --- oh, oh --- they weren't there -—
Moran: Take a look at the photograph ---
Trump: But they're there now, right?
Moran: No, what -—
Trump: But they're there now?
Moran: They're in your picture.
Trump: Terry.
Moran: Ukraine, sir.
Trump: He's got MS-13 on his knuckles.
Moran: Alright, I -—
Trump: Okay?
Moran: --- we'll --- we'll take a look at that, sir -—
Trump: It's --- it's--- you do such a disservice -—
Moran: We'll take a look. We'll take a look at that, sir -—
Trump: Why don't you just say, "Yes, he does," and go on to something else -—
Moran: It's contested. Ukraine --- I want to turn …
And that was finally the end of it. Trump could never give up that he was mistaken. He tried to force his will that he was right onto Moran and wouldn't give up until he was proven right. Told that it was Photoshopped and not look at the photograph closely.
There's never been a digital release of the knuckle shot. Just a printed photograph that Trump proudly shows as proof. Had a digital release been done, people would have easily seen the superimposed tiny print below the tattoos as well as the MS13.
Trump even tried to claim that the MS13 had been tattooed on Kilmar in El Salvador. Sure. Bukele is going to send tattoo artists into prisons to make prisoners happy.
It's like a dog with a bone. Trump won't let go, even with facts staring him right in the face. Like he won't give up on his belief that tariffs are good for the economy.
Just one more indication that Trump is losing his grip on reality more, and more, everyday. His intelligence quotient has dropped considerably since 2016.
Trump has to believe that Kilmar is a gang member, a wife-beater, an illegal alien, a bad person that's simply getting what is coming to them.
Because Trump is never wrong.
