Trump Calls Abrego Garcia An 'Animal,' Claims Democrats Defend Him Because 'They Think He's Going To Be Good For Votes'

President Donald Trump called Kilmar Abrego Garcia an "animal," claiming that Democrats defended his right to due process because "they think he's going to be good for votes."

Speaking to press at the Oval Office, Trump was asked whether he had an opinion about Abrego Garcia, who the journalist described as an "MS-13 gangbanger and human trafficker."

"Why are Democrats to emotionally attached to this man who beat his wife and is part of a terrorist organization?" the person added.

"They think he's going to be good for votes. I think he's very bad for votes. These people are deranged. He beat the hell out of his wife. His wife is afraid to even talk about it. She's been mauled by this animal. We have that under control. Pam (Bondi) has got that very much under control," Trump said.

Abrego Garcia has denied being part of MS-13, in fact fleeing the country for the U.S. out of fear of persecution.

Regarding the beating allegations, his wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, acknowledged filing a temporary protective order against him in 2021, but said she "acted out of caution after a disagreement with Kilmar by seeking a civil protective order" after "surviving domestic violence in a previous relationship."

"Things did not escalate, and I decided not to follow through with the civil court process," she added. Vasquez Sura said the two went to counseling and worked on their marriage. The administration then published documents showing six instances of alleged abuse, including a threat to kill her in 2020. He was never charged and Vasquez Sura continues to defend him as a good husband and father.

The Trump administration has anticipated its intention of deporting Abrego Garcia to Uganda in the next days following his release from prison.

One of his lawyers, Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, said he would fight "tooth and nail against any form of deportation to Uganda" or any other countries in the region.

"It is preposterous that they would send him to Africa, to a country where he doesn't even speak the language, a country with documented human rights violations, when there are so many other options," he told press.

Abrego Garcia had rejected an offer to be deported to Costa Rica in exchange for pleading guilty to human smuggling charges, for which he was detained in Tennessee for a month.

Costa Rican authorities said they would not detain Abrego Garcia upon arrival to the country, and Sandoval Moshenger seemingly suggested the option might not be unfavorable. "It's a Spanish speaking country. It's proximate to the United States. His family can visit him there easily."

He surrendered to ICE authorities on Monday in Baltimore. On Saturday, a source familiar with the case told NBC News said he could "be removed to Uganda no less than 72 hours absent weekends."