In the latest sign that the White House is seriously considering making an emergency declaration to build a security wall at the southern border, Trump reportedly joined senior adviser Jared Kushner in a meeting with contractors to discuss plans to begin construction.
The President has been threatening to bypass Congress and declare a national emergency for some time, but is still hesitant to pull the trigger, hoping lawmakers can come to an agreement on funding.
When asked for a prediction on whether or not Democrats would be willing to compromise when the latest budget resolution ends on the 15th, Trump told the Wall Street Journal “less than 50-50.”
As such, a national emergency may be the only path forward.
“We will be looking at a national emergency, because I don’t think anything’s going to happen,” Trump has said. “I don’t think Democrats want border security.”
CNN reports that multiple sources have confirmed the meeting with contractors – a meeting that “shows that he is seriously considering” taking the step that has the potential of freeing up to $7 billion in funds.
News — President Trump and Jared Kushner met with contractors at the White House late last week to discuss building the border wall. White House counsel Pat Cipollone was also present.
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) February 5, 2019
This shows that despite several senior Senate Republicans raising concerns about the possibility of Trump bypassing Congress and using an emergency declaration to build his wall, he’s seriously considering doing so.
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) February 5, 2019
Senate Republicans Wary
Also of note in CNN’s reporting is the fact that President Trump was apparently close to declaring a national emergency when dueling proposals – one including border wall funds and one without – failed to pass.
According to the report, Trump came close to committing to the emergency path but “aides convinced him that waiting three weeks while a special committee of senators and representatives attempted to hash out a deal” was a better option.
POTUS came very close to declaring an emergency after the Senate proposals failed at the end of January, but aides convinced him to wait and let the committee try to hash it out, saying if they couldn’t come up with a deal, then he could declare one. https://t.co/RQk90MInRA
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) February 5, 2019
“If those congressional negotiators couldn’t come up with an agreement that funded the wall, he could declare a national emergency,” CNN relayed.
Democrats Vow to Stop Him
Obstructionist Democrats have repeatedly vowed to stop Trump should he move to declare a national emergency.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer has already threatened to file a lawsuit, an effort that could bog down the process by tying it up in courts well into the 2020 campaign season.
Is that doesn’t work, they’ve introduced legislation that would block the President from using the military or disaster funding.
While it should have been done sooner, tonight may be the night Trump finally declares that national emergency.
“Listen closely to the State of the Union,” he said.
