Trump interview: President says border situation is 'national emergency' as he edges closer to declaration
President takes trip to Texas on 20th day of government shutdown
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Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump has doubled down on his threat to declare a national emergency to free up federal funds to build a wall on a visit to Texas as part of an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity.
When asked how soon it would be before he declare an emergency, the president said "if we don't make a deal with Congress most likely I will do that". Despite the fact any such move would bring legal challenges, Mr Trump said the law is "100 per cent on my side".
He went on to call the situation at the border "a national emergency, if you look what's happening."
Mr Trump did not lay out a specific timetable for when he might take the step of a declaration, saying: “I think we're going to see what happens over the next few days.”
Critics have accused Mr Trump of "manufacturing" a border crisis to try and get the wall as part of a deal to end a partial government shutdown.
Two days after delivering a televised address to the nation to make his case for a wall, and a day after he abruptly left a meeting with Democrats after they refused to pay for one, Mr Trump travelled to the city of McAllen where he signed autographs for supporters and met border agency officials.
As he left the White House for his visit to Texas, Mr Trump again denied throwing a “temper tantrum” during the encounter with Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi a day earlier.
At a roundtable meeting with community leaders and officials in McAllen, among them Texas senator Ted Cruz, the president repeated his insistence that a wall would be be built.
“We’re going to build a powerful steel barrier. They said we don’t want a concrete wall. I said that’s okay, we’ll call it a steel barrier,” he said.
“They say this is a manufactured crisis. That’s their new sound bite ... Every network has ‘manufactured crisis’. But it’s not. What’s manufactured is the word ‘manufactured’.”
The president - who has cancelled an upcoming trip to Davos, Switzerland, because of the shutdown - also sought to address those critics who have pointed out he used to repeatedly promise Mexico would pay for any barrier. He claimed without evidence that the terms of a new trade deal with Mexico and Canada will provide the money for the wall.
“When I say Mexico’s going to pay for the wall ... I didn’t say they’re going to write me a check for $10bn or $20bn,” he said. “If Congress approves this trade bill, they’ll pay for the wall many times over. When I say Mexico’s going to lpay for the wall, that’s what I mean”.
To see how events unfolded throughout the day, see our liveblog below
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Two fire extinguishers used to transport meth into the US
In front of Mr Trump at the roundtable in McAllen, Texas, are two fire extinguishers that were reportedly used to try and smuggle meth into the US.
Other items on display are a bag full of cash, and AK-47s. Next to the cash is a plaque that says the bag is filled with over $362,000 (or that a recent raid yielded that much money).
Top Trump administration officials are with the president in McAllen, including the mastermind behind his family separation policy
Mr Trump is in Texas to promote his border wall policy, and he is accompanied by his senior staff including policy adviser Stephen Miller. Mr Miller is known as a driving force behind the president's immigration policies — and reportedly was eager to stoke outrage over the family separation policies that gained national prominence last year.
Here is who is with the president:
Texas Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, both Republicans
Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen
White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney
White House senior adviser Jared Kushner
White House communications director Bill Shine
White House senior policy adviser Stephen Miller
White House social media director Dan Scavino
Lt. General Todd Semonite, head of US Army Corps of Engineers
Kevin McAleenan, commissioner of US Customs and Border Protection
Trump wraps things up at his roundtable
The president has thanked Border Patrol, ICE, and law enforcement before ending his meeting.
"We are with you 1,000 per cent," Mr Trump told the group before adjourning the meeting.
The giant Trump baby is apparently in McAllen
Photos appear to show the giant inflatable Trump baby floating in the hot Texas sun as the president tours the Texas border.
Mr Trump is trying to convince the US that a border wall is necessary for US border security, and conducted a roundtable with Border Patrol and ICE agents earlier Thursday to drive home the point.
The latest from the states on Trump's wall
From the Associated Press: State senators in South Dakota have passed a resolution urging construction of a steel barrier along the US-Mexico border.
The Republican-dominated chamber voted 28-5 Thursday for the measure as the federal government shutdown drags on.
Republican state Sen. Stace Nelson, the main sponsor of the measure, says South Dakota has a chance to be part of the national discussion over President Donald Trump's border wall.
Democratic Sen. Craig Kennedy, an opponent, called the measure "pure politics."
Trump and congressional Democrats have been at an impasse over funding for the proposed wall, which has led to the partial government shutdown now in its 20th day.
In Montana, a lawmaker wants to spend $8 million in state money to help build the wall.
Trump has not made up mind on declaring national emergency: Pence
Vice President Mike Pence says Donald Trump has “made no decision” about declaring a national emergency to build a border wall with Mexico. But he adds, “The president’s going to get this done one way or another,” according to the Associated Press
Pence called on Democrats to negotiate an end to the shutdown, which is now in its 20th day. He told reporters it’s time for Congress to “do its job.”
Pence also indicated Trump has little interest in a broader immigration deal to end the shutdown. He said Trump is waiting to see how the courts rule on the legality of an Obama-era program that shields some young immigrants from deportation.
Democrats say Trump is holding the country hostage for his wall funding and have called on Republicans to re-open the government.
The House passed a spending bill Thursday to reopen the Department of Transportation and Department of Housing and Urban Development, despite an improbable fate in the Senate and the threat of a presidential veto.
The vote was 244-180.
Twelve Republicans joined with Democrats to support the bill, four more than on Wednesday, when the House passed a bill to reopen the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service.
The House has passed another spending bill to re-open the Department of Agriculture — which runs the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programme, commonly known as SNAP or food stamps, as well as the Food and Drug Administration.
The Democratic-led House passed the bill, with a vote of 243-183. Ten Republicans supported the measure.
It is the third of four bills the House is bringing to the floor this week to keep the spotlight on the partial government shutdown and put pressure on the Senate to act. It is likely to pass the Senate however.
Senator Lindsey Graham, a key all of Donald Trump ally, is calling on the president to "use emergency powers to fund the construction of a border wall/barrier," adding, "I hope it works."
In his letter, Mr Graham said that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's refusal to grant Mr Trump money for the border wall "virtually ends the congressional path to funding" it.
The Senate has again passed a bill ensure furloughed federal workers will get back pay.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell spoke on the floor, saying he talked to President Trump a short time ago and Trump assured him he would sign the bill.
The Senate then passed it on a voice vote. The measure initially passed the Congress around Christmas but they had to do it again in the new Congress.
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