While I think there are more constructive ways to criticize GWU’s independent study regarding “excess mortality from Hurricane María in Puerto Rico,” the president was right to do so. It’s an incredibly misleading document that never denies that its figures are estimated.
GWU’s independent study created “counterfactual mortality estimates,” then compared those estimates to the total number of actual deaths that occurred during the timeframe of the hurricane. They concluded there were an estimated 2,975 excess deaths— based solely on a hypotheses. 
GWU literally guessed that 2,975 excess deaths occurred due to Hurricane María. That being said, Trump is not out of line to scrutinize their independent study or those blaming him for a death toll that’s based on speculation.
