During a media update on Hurricane Dorian, President Trump shared a early model of the Dorian’s projected path. The map produced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, appears to have be alerted,altered with black sharpie, to included a part of the state of Alabama.
On September 1st, as Florida prepared for Hurricane Dorian to make landfall, the President tweeted saying that in addition to Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama, “will most likely be hit (much) harder than anticipated.”
In addition to Florida – South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama, will most likely be hit (much) harder than anticipated. Looking like one of the largest hurricanes ever. Already category 5. BE CAREFUL! GOD BLESS EVERYONE!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 1, 2019
The tweet was sent at 10:51 a.m..
At 11:11 a.m., the National Weather Service in Birmingham, Alabama issued a tweet that stressed Alabama would “NOT” see any impacts from Hurricane Dorian.
Alabama will NOT see any impacts from #Dorian. We repeat, no impacts from Hurricane #Dorian will be felt across Alabama. The system will remain too far east. #alwx
— NWS Birmingham (@NWSBirmingham) September 1, 2019
Later while speaking with reporters the President doubled down.
The White House transcript.
Trump: The original course was dead into Florida. Now it seems to be going up to toward South Carolina, toward North Carolina. Georgia is going to be hit. Alabama is going to get a piece of it, it looks like. But it can change its course again and it could go back more toward Florida.
Trump Con’t: So we’ll be knowing — we’ll be learning over the next probably, less than 24 hours. But it is a very, very powerful hurricane.
During a FEMA briefing President Trump again stated that Alabama could be affected by Hurricane Dorian.
President Donald Trump went after a reporter who said he was wrong for saying Hurricane Dorian would hit Alabama. pic.twitter.com/jRHPXW8LY8
— HuffPost (@HuffPost) September 3, 2019
Alabama was at one-time in a projection of Dorian’s path, on August 30th, it was removed by the 31st, that was before the President’s tweet.
Tropical-storm-force winds from #Dorian could begin in parts of Florida *as early as* Sunday morning. Now is the time to think about what kinds of preparations you might need to make and listen to advice from your local emergency officials https://t.co/yChCF6oWL9 pic.twitter.com/KAFnJSd0Gy
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) August 30, 2019
On Sept. 2nd, the President tweeted that news reports regarding his statements about Alabama and Hurricane Dorian were “phony.”
Such a phony hurricane report by lightweight reporter @jonkarl of @ABCWorldNews. I suggested yesterday at FEMA that, along with Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina, even Alabama could possibly come into play, which WAS true. They made a big deal about this…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 2, 2019
….when in fact, under certain original scenarios, it was in fact correct that Alabama could have received some “hurt.” Always good to be prepared! But the Fake News is only interested in demeaning and belittling. Didn’t play my whole sentence or statement. Bad people!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 2, 2019
In the clip via Huffington Post when asked about Alabama being hit by Hurricane Dorian the President says:
Trump: And Alabama could even be in for at least very strong winds and something more than that, it could be. This just came up unfortunately.
On Wednesday the President shared a map that was alerted alerted using black marker to include a part of Alabama on an official Hurricane model photo.
The black outlined area on this very outdated @NHC_Atlantic #Dorian graphic that Trump just used in his update was added and not a part of the official forecast. @WhiteHouse pic.twitter.com/XMQmepPyj6
— Kait Parker (@WeatherKait) September 4, 2019
President Trump re-tweeted the White House video of President Trump sharing the alerted altered map. Holding the map up is, Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan.
President @realDonaldTrump gives an update on Hurricane #Dorian: pic.twitter.com/CmxAXHY5AO
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 4, 2019
Asked about the alerted altered map, the President responded.
WATCH: Asked about the #sharpie-doctored @NWS map from earlier today, @realDonaldTrump repeats his lie about Alabama having been in Hurricane #Dorian’s path (it wasn’t).
— Andrew Feinberg (@AndrewFeinberg) September 4, 2019
Asked again about the sharpie marks, all he can say is “I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know.” pic.twitter.com/4VgbFDjp8X
The Washington Post explains that according to photos, posted to the White House’s Flickr site, the President did receive the correct briefing on Aug. 29th.
Photos posted on the White House’s Flickr site reveal that Trump did receive the correct briefing on Aug. 29 from acting National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration head Neil Jacobs, in which the National Hurricane Center’s forecast called for Dorian to hit Florida. Alabama was never included in any National Hurricane Center forecast cone for Dorian, though it was included for a time in a map on the probability of tropical storm conditions, but that showed a low likelihood of that outcome.
The Washington Post.
Cornell Law School notes, that it’s a crime to alert alter official weather forecast information provided by, “the Weather Bureau, United States Signal Service, or other branch of the Government service.”
The person or persons that “knowingly issues or publishes any counterfeit weather forecast or warning of weather conditions falsely representing such forecast or warning,” shall be fined or could face up to 90 days in jail.
*Updated to correct misspelled word. I apologize for the error.
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