Department of Energy posts US map on X that leaves out Vermont
A graphic on the Department of Energy's X account, promoting Tribal energy funding, appeared to omit Vermont. Users mocked it and some suggested AI made it; the department has not confirmed how it was made.
1 / 2
The story, neutrally told
Centre · 2The US Department of Energy's official X account posted a graphic that appeared to show the whole country but left out Vermont. NewsweekN “Vermont was completely missing from the graphic.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Hindustan TimesN “appeared to make one notable oversight—accidentally excluding an entire state” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ Centre · 1The post's caption read: "Yesterday, the Energy Department announced major investments toward Tribal communities energy infrastructure that will lower energy costs for Americans!" NewsweekN “Yesterday, the Energy Department announced major investments toward Tribal communities energy infrastructure that will lower energy costs for Americans!” Read at Newsweek ↗ Centre · 2A community note on X asked simply "Vermont?", and commenters questioned the omission, with some suggesting artificial intelligence had been used to make the map. NewsweekN “In a community note on X, viewers had simply written: "Vermont?"” Read at Newsweek ↗ Hindustan TimesN “several people speculated that artificial intelligence might have been responsible for creating it” Read at Hindustan Times ↗
Centre · 1One user wrote "I live in vermont man I find this very offensive," and another wrote "So you failed geography." Hindustan TimesN ““I live in vermont man I find this very offensive,””““So you failed geography,” a fourth user stated.” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ Centre · 1Newsweek emailed the department for comment and could not confirm whether AI was used for the graphic. Neither outlet reports a department response. NewsweekN “Newsweek reached out to the DOE via email for comment and was not able to confirm if AI had been used for the graphic.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Centre · 2The graphic showed how many projects are planned in each state, with Alaska and Oklahoma having the most. NewsweekN “The graphic offered a snapshot of how many projects are planned in each state, with the largest number in Alaska and Oklahoma.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Hindustan TimesN “with Alaska and Oklahoma demonstrating the highest concentrations” Read at Hindustan Times ↗
Centre · 2On October 22 the department announced that 63 Tribal-led energy projects had been selected for negotiations over more than $125 million in federal funding. The projects include bringing electricity to Tribal homes without it, converting others to natural-gas heating and upgrading infrastructure. NewsweekN “On October 22, the DOE announced that 63 Tribal-led energy projects had been selected for negotiations over more than $125 million in federal funding.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Hindustan TimesN “electrification of Tribal residences currently without electrical service” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ Centre · 2The department said the selections were consistent with President Donald Trump's "Unleashing American Energy" executive order. It said Tribal households face energy costs 28 percent higher than the national average and that about 17,000 Tribal homes lack electricity. NewsweekN “Tribal households face energy costs 28 percent higher than the national average and that about 17,000 Tribal homes lack electricity.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Hindustan TimesN “approximately 17,000 Tribal residences currently lack access to electricity” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ Centre · 1Newsweek placed the error among earlier administration slips: a December 2025 placard reading "SSecretary of War", a July 2026 State Department map of Africa that mislabeled every country (a Reuters analysis found signs it was made with OpenAI tools), and a September typo, "President of the Unites States", on an AI accord. NewsweekN “a placard labeled his role in the administration as "SSecretary of War."”“A Reuters analysis of the image found signs it had been made with OpenAI tools.”“Trump’s signature was labeled "President of the Unites States."” Read at Newsweek ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets treat it as a small, embarrassing error by the administration that drew online mockery. Newsweek leads with it as a Trump administration mistake. Hindustan Times leads with the backlash from users.
- Emphasis
- Newsweek stresses a pattern of earlier administration errors. Hindustan Times quotes user reactions.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither reports a DOE response or confirms how the graphic was made. Hindustan Times leaves out the earlier-mistakes context.
- Charged language
- “glaring omission”“You failed geography”
- For example
-
“This is not the first time the Trump administration has shared public materials with an embarrassing mistake.” — Newsweek
““So you failed geography,” a fourth user stated.” — Hindustan Times
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- The DOE's X post showed a US map that appeared to omit Vermont.
- The post promoted the October 22 announcement of 63 Tribal-led energy projects and more than $125 million in funding.
- Users commented on the omission and some speculated AI made the graphic.
Department of Energy organisation
The department framed the post as promoting its Tribal energy funding, citing the "Unleashing American Energy" order. It has not publicly commented on the omission in the coverage.
“DOE said the selections were consistent with President Donald Trump's "Unleashing American Energy" executive order.” — Newsweek
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre2 articles
-
Trump Admin Posts Map of America With No Vermont
Mixed Reports the omission as the latest in a run of embarrassing administration errors, with background on the funding announcement.
-
Trump admin's X post draws backlash over missing state on US map: ‘You failed geography’
Neutral Reports the online backlash with quoted user comments alongside the funding details.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 26 Oct 10:18 First NewsweekN Trump Admin Posts Map of America With No Vermont
- 26 Oct 11:08 +49m Hindustan TimesN Trump admin's X post draws backlash over missing state on US map: ‘You failed geography’
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
Ask about this story
Loading…