Sharpiegate: Alters hurricane map to defend false Alabama claim

After falsely tweeting that Alabama 'will most likely be hit (much harder than anticipated)' by Hurricane Dorian, Trump displayed an official NOAA weather map crudely altered with a black Sharpie to extend the hurricane's path into Alabama. The Washington Post confirmed Trump himself doctored the map. The National Weather Service in Birmingham had immediately contradicted Trump's claim, tweeting 'Alabama will NOT see any impacts from Dorian.' Trump then pressured NOAA to issue a statement backing him up, which they did despite contradicting their own scientists. The Commerce Department's IG later found this 'appears to be the result of strong pressure from the White House.' The 'Sharpiegate' incident demonstrated Trump's pathological inability to admit error and willingness to corrupt scientific agencies for political purposes, potentially endangering public safety.

"Alabama will most likely be hit (much harder than anticipated)" — Trump's false tweet about Hurricane Dorian, September 1, 2019