Trump's Weather Report Tampering: Legal Or Not?

On September 4, 2019, then-President Donald Trump held up a map of Hurricane Dorian's projected path, which included an extension drawn with a Sharpie to show the storm hitting Alabama. This was an attempt to defend an incorrect tweet he had posted on September 1, 2019, claiming that Alabama was one of the states in the path of the hurricane. However, the National Hurricane Center did not include Alabama in its forecast. Trump's alteration of the map raised questions about whether he broke the law on false weather reports. According to a 1948 regulation, it is illegal to publish a falsified official weather forecast. The law states that anyone who knowingly issues or publishes any counterfeit weather forecast or warning of weather conditions while falsely representing it as official is subject to fines, imprisonment, or both. This incident sparked a controversy known as Sharpiegate on social media, with Twitter users accusing Trump of altering the map himself to justify his claims about Dorian's impact on Alabama.

Trump's false claims about Hurricane Dorian hitting Alabama

On September 1, 2019, then-US President Donald Trump incorrectly stated that Alabama would likely be hit by Hurricane Dorian. At the time, it was known that the state would not be threatened by the storm. After many Alabamans contacted the local weather bureau, the National Weather Service (NWS) issued a clarification, stating that Alabama was not expected to be impacted.

Over the next few days, Trump repeatedly insisted that his initial comment was correct. On September 4, he held a press briefing where he displayed a map that had been altered with a black Sharpie marker to falsely show the hurricane's path reaching Alabama. This incident, dubbed "Sharpiegate", sparked widespread criticism and accusations that the president had violated US law by falsifying an official weather forecast.

The 1948 regulation on false weather reports states that anyone who "knowingly issues or publishes any counterfeit weather forecast or warning of weather conditions" while falsely representing it as an official government forecast is subject to fines, imprisonment, or both. Despite the law, Trump continued to defend his original statement and even ordered his aides to seek an official retraction from the weather bureau.

The controversy escalated when, on September 6, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued an unsigned statement supporting Trump's claim. Investigations by the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) and the inspector general of the US Department of Commerce later confirmed that the statement was issued due to political influence from the White House.

The incident caused significant concern among scientists and officials within NOAA, who felt that the administration was "eroding the public trust in NOAA." The scandal, known as "Sharpiegate," highlighted the potential consequences of misleading information during a natural disaster, with some commentators expressing fear for the stability and safety of the nation.

The 1948 regulation on false weather reports

On September 1, 2019, then-President Donald Trump posted a tweet claiming that Alabama was in the path of Hurricane Dorian. After news reports pointed out that Alabama was not in the hurricane's path, the National Weather Service issued a correction. However, Trump remained unsatisfied and, during a press event on September 4, displayed a doctored weather map that included a Sharpie-drawn extension to show the storm hitting Alabama. This led to speculation that Trump may have violated the 1948 regulation on false weather reports.

> "Whoever knowingly issues or publishes any counterfeit weather forecast or warning of weather conditions falsely representing such forecast or warning to have been issued or published by the Weather Bureau, United States Signal Service, or other branch of the Government service, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ninety days, or both."

This law, which has its origins in the early 20th century, was designed to prevent amateur weather forecasters from pretending to be part of the government agency. At the time, meteorology was not yet an established science, and the Weather Bureau sought to professionalize the practice. The current law applies to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service (NWS), which is the government agency responsible for providing weather forecasts and reports across the country.

While it is unclear whether Trump would have faced any legal consequences for his actions, the incident raised concerns about the potential impact of disseminating false information during a natural disaster. It also highlighted the importance of accurate and reliable weather forecasting, particularly during hurricane season when people's lives and livelihoods are at stake.

Trump's tweet about Hurricane Dorian

On September 1, 2019, then-President Donald Trump tweeted that, in addition to Florida, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina would "most likely be hit (much) harder than anticipated" by Hurricane Dorian. This claim was quickly refuted by the National Weather Service, which stated that Alabama would not be impacted by the hurricane.

Trump refused to back down, insisting that Alabama was in the original forecast and was due to be hit "very hard." On September 4, he held a press event and presented a map of Dorian's projected path, which had been extended with a Sharpie to show the storm hitting Alabama. This was an attempt to defend his original tweet, which had been proven incorrect.

The map was a forecast from August 29 and appeared to have been altered with a black marker to extend the hurricane's range to include Alabama. This alteration led to accusations that Trump had broken the law by publishing a falsified official weather forecast.

The 1948 regulation on false weather reports states that:

> "Whoever knowingly issues or publishes any counterfeit weather forecast or warning of weather conditions falsely representing such forecast or warning to have been issued or published by the Weather Bureau, United States Signal Service, or other branch of the Government service, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ninety days, or both."

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service (NWS) is the government agency responsible for providing weather forecasts and reports. By altering the map and insisting that Alabama was in Dorian's path, Trump may have violated this law.

The controversy surrounding Trump's tweet and the altered map, dubbed "Sharpiegate", sparked a debate about the accuracy of information presented by government officials and the potential consequences of misleading the public during a natural disaster.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's map

On September 4, 2019, President Donald Trump held a press event in the Oval Office, during which he displayed a map of Hurricane Dorian's projected path. The map, held by acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan, was a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) map titled "Hurricane Dorian Forecast Track and Intensity". It had been altered with a Sharpie to extend the hurricane's path into Alabama, which was not included in the National Hurricane Center's official forecast.

Trump's extension of the hurricane's path into Alabama was an attempt to defend an incorrect tweet he had posted on September 1, in which he claimed that Alabama was one of the states in Dorian's path. The National Weather Service was forced to issue a correction, stating that Alabama would not be affected by the hurricane.

Trump's alteration of the NOAA map may have violated federal law. The 1948 regulation on false weather reports states:

> "Whoever knowingly issues or publishes any counterfeit weather forecast or warning of weather conditions falsely representing such forecast or warning to have been issued or published by the Weather Bureau, United States Signal Service, or other branch of the Government service, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ninety days, or both."

This law, which applies to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service (NWS), seeks to ensure that only legitimate forecasts are invoked with the authority of the government.

The controversy over Trump's alteration of the NOAA map, dubbed "Sharpiegate", sparked a debate about the accuracy of the president's statements and the potential consequences of spreading misinformation. While it is unclear if anyone has been prosecuted under this law, the incident raised questions about the responsibility of public officials in communicating accurate and timely information to the public, especially during emergencies.

The law on false weather reports

In the United States, it is against the law to publish a falsified official weather forecast. The 1948 regulation on false weather reports states that:

> "Whoever knowingly issues or publishes any counterfeit weather forecast or warning of weather conditions falsely representing such forecast or warning to have been issued or published by the Weather Bureau, United States Signal Service, or other branch of the Government service, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ninety days, or both."

This law, which is still in effect, applies to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service (NWS), the government agency responsible for providing weather forecasts and reports across the country. The current law dates back to the 1940s, but similar regulations have been in place for over a century.

The reason for this law stems from the early days of meteorology when it was not yet an established science. The Weather Bureau, which oversaw weather forecasts at the time, sought to professionalize the practice and ensure that only legitimate forecasts were associated with their agency. This was particularly important as people with vocations that made them adept at reading the skies, such as farmers and fishermen, would often try to sell their own weather forecasts.

Today, with advancements in technology and the increasing impact of climate change, the commercial opportunities in weather forecasting are vast. The rise of independent companies well-equipped to predict the weather has presented a new challenge to the NWS. However, the law on false weather reports remains crucial to maintaining public trust and confidence in official weather forecasts, especially during hurricane season when lives are at stake.

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