Matt Drudge, political commentator and author of drudgereport.com, faced serious backlash on Friday after suggesting that Hurricane Matthew’s intensity was being hyped up by the government in an effort to advance its climate change agenda.
Drudge tweeted Thursday afternoon: “The deplorables are starting to wonder if govt has been lying to them about Hurricane Matthew intensity to make exaggerated point on climate.”
The term “deplorables” is a reference to a comment made by Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in which she called Trump supporters “deplorables.”
Minutes later, Drudge suggested in a tweet that the Hurricane Center has a “monopoly on data.”
“No way of verifying claims. Nassau ground observations DID NOT match statements! 165mph gusts? WHERE?” Drudge tweeted.
The National Hurricane Center is a part of the federal government’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Drudge’s comments come at a time when many people in mandatory evacuation areas are refusing to leave.
Hurricane Matthew has already killed more than 400 people.
While many have condemned Drudge for his comments, many other agree with his sentiment: that climate change is either not real, or overly exaggerated.
But even Donald Trump, who has said that climate change is a hoax, urged people in the path of the storm to stay safe, and praised Florida Governor Rick Scott for his leadership.
