According to Fox News, Rep. Eric Swalwell’s obsession with a photo’s authenticity turned a Homeland Security budget hearing into a circus. The California Democrat grilled Secretary Kristi Noem over a snapshot shared by President Trump, allegedly showing MS-13 tattoos on a deportee’s hand. Apparently, Swalwell fancies himself a Photoshop expert now.
During Wednesday’s hearing in Washington, D.C., Swalwell fixated on a photo of Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s hand, which Trump posted on social media last month. The image, held up by Trump in the Oval Office, was said to display MS-13 tattoos, but Swalwell insisted the letters “M,” “S,” and numbers “1” and “3” were digitally added. Leave it to a leftist to prioritize pixels over policy.
Noem, dressed in black and unfazed, clarified that Abrego Garcia’s deportation stemmed from a thorough investigation, not some Oval Office photo op. The El Salvadoran, labeled a terrorist and MS-13 member, was booted by the Trump administration. Actions, not images, drive results.
“I have a bulls--- detector,” Swalwell boasted, citing his kids’ ages to bolster his sleuthing credentials. His self-proclaimed radar zeroed in on the photo’s legitimacy, as if Noem personally edited it in Paint. This grandstanding screams more desperation than discernment.
“Is this doctored or not?” Swalwell pressed, demanding Noem validate his conspiracy theory. His fixation on credibility is rich, considering he’s more known for theatrics than truth. Meanwhile, Noem stayed focused on actual security threats.
“I did not know,” Noem said, brushing off the photo’s relevance. She emphasized that the Department of Homeland Security’s mission is to “go after the worst of the worst.” Swalwell’s photo obsession missed that memo.
Abrego Garcia’s rap sheet—MS-13 ties, human trafficking, domestic violence—paints a clear picture of why he was deported. Noem called him “a known terrorist” who “should never have been in this country.” Swalwell’s nitpicking over tattoos seems trivial by comparison.
“It was unbelievable,” Noem remarked, stunned by Swalwell’s tunnel vision. While he played amateur detective, she defended DHS’s focus on rooting out criminals. Guess who’s protecting Americans?
Swalwell, a House Homeland Security committee member, seemed more interested in viral moments than substantive policy. His “credibility” lecture fell flat against Noem’s straightforward defense of deportation. Tough luck, Eric—facts trump feelings.
Trump’s social media post last month sparked this whole debacle, with the White House claiming the photo showed MS-13 ink. Swalwell’s accusation of doctoring turned a serious hearing into a sideshow. Leave it to the left to major in minors. Noem reiterated that the deportation wasn’t photo-driven but investigation-based. “The mission of DHS is to secure the country,” she said, highlighting criminals like Abrego Garcia as prime targets. Swalwell’s distraction tactics won’t change that.
Abrego Garcia’s lawyers, meanwhile, want more Trump officials to testify, possibly from the White House. Their fishing expedition smells like a delay tactic to dodge the real issue: their client’s rap sheet. Good luck spinning that one.
“I want you to have credibility,” Swalwell lectured Noem, as if she’s the one lacking it. His sanctimonious tone reeks of the woke moralizing that’s tanked Democrat credibility nationwide. Pot, meet kettle. Noem’s testimony cut through the noise: Abrego Garcia was a “wife-beater and human trafficker” who had no business here. Her focus on results over optics exposes Swalwell’s posturing for what it is—pure theater. Deportations don’t need a filter to work.
Wednesday’s hearing proved one thing: while Noem fights for safety, Swalwell chases headlines. His “bulls--- detector” might need a tune-up—it’s picking up his rhetoric. In the end, America’s better off with Noem’s resolve than Swalwell’s tantrums.
