President Donald Trump engaged in a tense exchange with ABC News journalist Terry Moran during an interview marking his first 100 days back in office, questioning the reporter’s credibility and dismissing his inquiries on various key issues.
The interview, aired as a primetime special, featured multiple clashes between Trump and Moran, especially concerning the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident deported to El Salvador despite a court order preventing his deportation.
Moran challenged Trump on the discredited claims that Abrego Garcia was affiliated with the MS-13 gang, prompting Trump to reference an image he had previously circulated that purportedly showed gang tattoos on Abrego Garcia’s knuckles.
“Wait a minute, wait a minute. He had MS-13 on his knuckles,” Trump insisted during the exchange.
Trump informed Moran that ABC was offering him a significant opportunity and admitted selecting the journalist because he was unfamiliar with him. Trump further commented that Moran was not being very nice during their discussion.
Moran attempted to steer the conversation to other topics, but Trump repeatedly returned to the photograph, urging the journalist to acknowledge what he deemed as clear evidence. When Moran suggested the image might be interpreted differently or altered, and tried to shift focus to Ukraine, Trump resisted changing subjects.
Trump expressed dissatisfaction with the media coverage, claiming such reporting was why people doubt the news. He maintained that Abrego Garcia’s gang affiliation was evident from the photograph, despite no other images showing MS-13 markings on the man’s hands.
Law enforcement experts and researchers have contested Trump’s assertions regarding the tattoos, noting they do not conclusively indicate MS-13 membership. Reports also state that Abrego Garcia is held in a Salvadoran facility designated for non-gang members.
The discussion continued as Moran inquired about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who recently faced scrutiny for sharing classified information about planned strikes on Houthi rebels using Signal, a platform not approved by the Pentagon for sensitive communications.
Trump defended Hegseth as talented, young, smart, and highly educated, describing him as a potentially great defense secretary. When asked if he had full confidence in Hegseth, Trump dismissed the question as stupid.
Trump indicated he had spoken with Hegseth about the issue but declined to provide details of their conversation, telling Moran that he probably wouldn’t disclose what he had said to his defense secretary.
The interview also addressed Trump’s controversial deportation policies. Despite his administration’s legal argument that they lacked the authority to return Abrego Garcia to the U.S. as ordered by the Supreme Court, Trump conceded during the interview that he could facilitate the man’s return.
When Moran suggested Trump could call the president of El Salvador to request Abrego Garcia’s return, Trump acknowledged this was possible but conditioned such action on whether Abrego Garcia was truly the gentleman Moran described.
The president asserted that his administration could not provide hearings or due process to all individuals targeted for deportation, despite Supreme Court rulings mandating such protections.
Trump’s interview with Moran occurs as his administration faces multiple legal challenges over its immigration enforcement tactics, particularly regarding the deportation of individuals with unresolved court cases or those granted specific protections by the judicial system.
The exchange highlighted the growing tension between the Trump administration and the courts regarding immigration policy, with several federal judges expressing frustration over the administration’s perceived non-compliance with court orders.
In the case of Abrego Garcia, a federal judge has repeatedly ordered the administration to facilitate his return to the United States, but court documents indicate little progress has been made. The administration has claimed certain information related to the case involves protected state secrets, complicating resolution efforts.
Throughout the conversation, Trump criticized media coverage of his administration, specifically targeting ABC, which he described as one of the worst news outlets.
Moran, contrary to Trump’s suggestion he’s not known, is an award-winning journalist with an extensive career at ABC News, having covered major events like the Bush v. Gore Supreme Court decision and conducted interviews with former President Barack Obama. He previously served as the network’s London-based chief foreign correspondent before returning to the U.S. to cover politics.
The interview also touched on Trump’s tariff policies, with the president defending his 145% tariffs on China against Moran’s concerns about potential price increases for American consumers. Trump insisted that China would likely absorb most of the costs, dismissing economic warnings regarding the impact on U.S. households.
When questioned about U.S. military support for Ukraine and the possibility of cutting off aid if peace negotiations fail, Trump declined to provide a direct answer, stating he preferred to keep his intentions a secret to maintain leverage in international negotiations.
