Trump Considering Declaring 'National Emergency' To Get Funds For His Border Wall

Donald Trump may declare a national emergency to fund his border wall

Donald Trump told the press today that he is considering declaring a national emergency in order to allocate funds to build his infamous 'border wall.'

Trump didn't offer details on how that process would work.

JUST IN: Pres. Trump says he's considered declaring a national emergency to circumvent congressional approval to allocate funds for border wall: "We can call a national emergency because of the security of our country... I haven't done it, I may do it." https://t.co/cOHXje4LUF pic.twitter.com/DWay2YzddE

— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) January 4, 2019

Trump should read the Constitution:

“All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives ... No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law.” U.S. Constitution, Article I. https://t.co/BlY6k6Ij7o

— Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) January 4, 2019

Trump's confusing message: He claims he can declare a national emergency and build wall himself; Mexico is paying for it through a trade deal that hasn't been approved by Congress; and the wall is already being built.

But he wants Congress to appropriate $5 billion for the wall

— Manu Raju (@mkraju) January 4, 2019

This is SO confusing.

The wall's already built?

Or do you still need $5B for the wall?

Is Mexico still paying for it?

Oh, so they'll pay LATER, you say?

But you're building it anyway, even if you don't get $5B?

So wait...why is the government shut down?

dammit!

— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) January 4, 2019

In related news, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told the press today that Trump said in a meeting today regarding the current government shutdown that he "would keep the government shutdown for a very long period of time - months or even years."

Chuck Schumer: "We told the president we needed the government open. He resisted. In fact, he said he'd keep the government closed for a very long period of time. Months or even years." Via ABC pic.twitter.com/5XYOoXH8mo

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) January 4, 2019