February 14, 2019

Trump to Declare National Emergency Over Border Wall

He’ll sign the government funding bill—and avoid a shutdown—but still declare an emergency.

Chris Kleponis/ZUMA

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President Donald Trump is prepared to sign a government funding bill and declare a national emergency in order to avert a shutdown while still securing funding for his border wall, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Thursday. McConnell said he would support the declaration despite his previous remarks admonishing that very option both publicly and privately with the president.

“I’ve indicated to him that I’m going to support the national emergency declaration,” McConnell said from the Senate floor. “So for all of my colleagues, the president will sign the bill; we will be voting on it shortly.”

The White House confirmed the development in a separate statement:

Shortly after the announcement, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi signaled that Democrats would possibly file a legal challenge to Trump’s order. She also slammed the president for failing to take such strong action against gun violence:

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We just wrapped up a shorter-than-normal, urgent-as-ever fundraising drive and we came up about $45,000 short of our $300,000 goal.

That means we're going to have upwards of $350,000, maybe more, to raise in online donations between now and June 30, when our fiscal year ends and we have to get to break-even. And even though there's zero cushion to miss the mark, we won't be all that in your face about our fundraising again until June.

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