WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump said Friday that he was considering declaring a national emergency to secure money for a border wall — a move that…
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump said Friday that he was considering declaring a national emergency to secure money for a border wall — a move that would curtail Congress on an issue that led to the ongoing government shutdown.
The possibility, first reported by ABC News, is almost certain to face legal challenges if Trump were to elect to make the declaration. During a news conference Friday about negotiations to end the government shutdown, the president told reporters that he was weighing the option, adding “I can do it if I want.”
“We can call a national emergency because of the security of our country, absolutely,” Trump said.
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A national emergency, declared by the president by proclamation or executive order, gives a president extraordinary powers — to seize property, call up the National Guard and hire and fire military officers at will.
