At the press conference today Trump was asked directly if he’d considered using emergency powers to build the wall without congressional approval. The answer was an unequivocal yes.
Trump said he has considered it and that he can do it. He said it’s called a “national emergency” and he “may do it”:
WATCH: President Trump says he is considering declaring a national emergency as a potential attempt to circumvent Congress for border wall funding. pic.twitter.com/7CYDuBS2pn
— NBC News (@NBCNews) January 4, 2019
Trump says he’d rather build the wall via a negotiation with Congress, which is why he’s pursuing it via the government shutdown.
But clearly he believes he can do it and I think, should this government shutdown go on for a long time, he will do it. But given the potential court battles that would ensue, I don’t think he’s in a rush to go that route.