President Donald Trump is under fire after he shared an old map of Hurricane Dorian’s projected track that added a bubble to make it look like Alabama was at one point at risk from the storm:
In the Oval Office today, @Reuters photog @J_ErnstDC snapped this shot of @DHSMcAleenan helping @POTUS hold an older #HurricaneDorian track chart indicating some sort of threat for #Alabama. (cc: @NWSBirmingham) pic.twitter.com/gyRF7Smilf
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) September 4, 2019
That’s a screenshot from this video put out by the White House:
President @realDonaldTrump gives an update on Hurricane #Dorian: pic.twitter.com/CmxAXHY5AO
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 4, 2019
President Trump told reporters he didn’t know where the added bubble came from:
"I know that Alabama was in the original forecast," says @POTUS when asked about the map in subsequent Roosevelt Room event. In original models, he contends "in all cases, Alabama was hit. … A 95 percent probability." pic.twitter.com/J21PwyqfeS
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) September 4, 2019
Asked if someone drew over #Alabama with a Sharpie, @POTUS replies: "I don't know. I don't know. I don't know."
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) September 4, 2019
The National Weather Service had to issue a correction after the president said over the weekend that the storm could still pose a risk to Alabama at a time when the NHC had already changed the projected path of the Category 5 hurricane:
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
Man, what an unforced error. The president could have just stopped at the original map and said something like, “I’m sorry I misspoke” as it’s clear the storm, at one point, was headed toward Alabama. From the NHC on August 29:
We're keeping an eye on Hurricane Dorian. For Central AL, there's no reason to worry at this time but certainly check @NHC_Atlantic daily for the latest Dorian-related information. We have your local 7-day forecast at https://t.co/9rRNiZCm8d -enter your city or zip. pic.twitter.com/5usIw3ZyGV
— NWS Birmingham (@NWSBirmingham) August 29, 2019
Of course, here comes the overreaction:
It is a violation of federal law to falsify a National Weather Service forecast and pass it off as official, as President Trump did here.
18 U.S. Code § 2074: https://t.co/jvROnpSJLI pic.twitter.com/TnIuvZRJoS
— Dennis Mersereau (@wxdam) September 4, 2019
Now they got him!
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