Representative Eric Swalwell had the photoshopped image walked over to her.

The Trump administration just became so much more Orwellian.

“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command,” George Orwell wrote in his cautionary tale about totalitarianism, 1984.

On Wednesday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem took that command a step further, refusing to even acknowledge a doctored photo depicting alleged gang tattoos on Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s knuckles, which the White House has repeatedly used to justify his deportation.

In a heated back-and-forth with Representative Eric Swalwell during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing, Noem repeatedly swerved away from answering direct questions about the photo, which was displayed on a massive poster board behind the California lawmaker.

  • Blue_Morpho@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Magas are desperately trying to avoid the trap. He has tattoos that could symbolize MS13. So if a symbol is undeniable proof, then Hegseth’s Nazi symbol tattoos becomes undeniable proof.

    But even if he had actual MS13 tattoos, it’s still ridiculous. Kids get all sorts of tattoos to look cool. Is Trump going to depart all the white trash girls with Chinese character tattoos?

    • Absaroka@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      Lets also not forget somebody was deported for an “MS-13” tattoo that was in fact an Autism awareness tattoo.

      This is why they’re pushing back against due process. They want to be able to make up shit and deport who they want.

    • Auli@lemmy.ca
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      2 months ago

      Could how? People saying this represents that is not reality. How is a skull 3. And experts say you know what MS 13 have tattooed MS 13.

      • Blue_Morpho@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        He clearly has tattoos that could be interpreted as MS13. It’s not a false narrative.

        But that’s not a crime.

          • Blue_Morpho@lemmy.world
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            2 months ago

            Marijuana, Smile, 1. Skull is a stretch for the 3.

            If it’s absurd, then an iron cross tattoo doesn’t mean white power either. So yeah it’s interpreted. But it doesn’t matter. So what if he had MS13 literally tattooed across his face? That’s not a crime.

    • gamer@lemm.ee
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      2 months ago

      I think you’re giving them too much credit. I doubt they’ve considered that, or would even care if they did.

      The real, sadder, reason is that Trump fell for a doctored photo, and these people are too scared to tell him he’s wrong.

    • j0ester@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      Is Trump going to depart all the white trash girls with Chinese character tattoos?

      That could be later.