Trump says he could bring back Ábrego García but won't
At a rally to mark his 100th day in office, the president doubled down on his unpopular immigration and economic policies
What happened
President Donald Trump marked his 100th day in office Tuesday with a campaign-style rally in Michigan where he defended his increasingly unpopular economic policies and celebrated his hard-line immigration crackdown. In an interview with ABC News broadcast last night, Trump said he could bring wrongly deported migrant Kilmar Ábrego García back from El Salvador but would not, despite a Supreme Court order to "facilitate" his return.
Who said what
"I could" bring Ábrego García home with one phone call, "and if he were the gentleman that you say he is, I would do that," Trump told ABC's Terry Moran. "But he's not" and "I'm not the one making this decision. We have lawyers that don't want to do this." Trump's comments "not only undermined previous statements by his top aides" that Ábrego García was out of his reach, The New York Times said, but they were also a "blunt sign of his administration's intention to double down and defy the courts."
Moran said the case was "about the rule of law" and due process, noting that "the order from the Supreme Court stands." Trump asserted that Ábrego García was a member of the gang MS-13, pointing to images of tattoos on his fingers that his administration claims are code for "MS-13." The president repeatedly insisted that the tattoos literally spell out MS-13 and berated Moran for pointing out, correctly, that the gang name was added with "Photoshop." Ábrego García has "MS-13 on his knuckles" as "clear as you can be. Not 'interpreted,'" Trump said. "This is why people no longer believe the news, because it's fake news."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Trump "gets higher marks on his performance on immigration than on any other issue" in a new Reuters/Ipsos poll, with 45% of respondents approving of his handling and 48% disapproving, Reuters said. "Democrats and civil rights advocates have criticized Trump's heightened enforcement tactics, including the cases of several children who are U.S. citizens who were recently deported with their parents."
What next?
“This is the best, they say, start of any president in history,” Trump said at his Michigan rally. "You haven't seen anything yet."
-
At least 8 dead in California’s deadliest avalancheSpeed Read The avalanche near Lake Tahoe was the deadliest in modern California history and the worst in the US since 1981
-
Political cartoons for February 19Cartoons Thursday’s political cartoons include a suspicious package, a piece of the cake, and more
-
The Gallivant: style and charm steps from Camber SandsThe Week Recommends Nestled behind the dunes, this luxury hotel is a great place to hunker down and get cosy
-
Should the EU and UK join Trump’s board of peace?Today's Big Question After rushing to praise the initiative European leaders are now alarmed
-
Witkoff and Kushner tackle Ukraine, Iran in GenevaSpeed Read Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held negotiations aimed at securing a nuclear deal with Iran and an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine
-
Pentagon spokesperson forced out as DHS’s resignsSpeed Read Senior military adviser Col. David Butler was fired by Pete Hegseth and Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin is resigning
-
Judge orders Washington slavery exhibit restoredSpeed Read The Trump administration took down displays about slavery at the President’s House Site in Philadelphia
-
Kurt Olsen: Trump’s ‘Stop the Steal’ lawyer playing a major White House roleIn the Spotlight Olsen reportedly has access to significant US intelligence
-
Hyatt chair joins growing list of Epstein files losersSpeed Read Thomas Pritzker stepped down as executive chair of the Hyatt Hotels Corporation over his ties with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell
-
ICE eyes new targets post-Minnesota retreatIn the Spotlight Several cities are reportedly on ICE’s list for immigration crackdowns
-
Judge blocks Hegseth from punishing Kelly over videoSpeed Read Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed for the senator to be demoted over a video in which he reminds military officials they should refuse illegal orders
