VP Mike Pence was asked this morning if Trump is planning to declare a national emergency to build the wall tonight in his prime time address.
Pence explains that Trump hasn’t made that decision yet. Rather, he’s going to explain to the American people why Congress needs to act:
NY POST – Vice President Pence said President Trump has yet to decide whether he will declare a national emergency to build a wall on the southern border as the commander-in-chief prepares to address the nation from the Oval Office.
“The president has made no decision with regard to a national emergency,” Pence said Tuesday on NBC’s “Today.”
Pence, responding to a direct question whether Trump will claim an emergency in Tuesday’s prime-time speech, said he thinks the president will “explain to the American people that we have a humanitarian and security crisis at our southern border.”
“It is a real crisis,” Pence added. “Tonight he will tell the American people why Congress should act.”
Trump and Congress are at a stalemate regarding funding for the barrier the president is demanding be built on the Mexican-US border, a disagreement that has led to a partial government shutdown that entered its 18th day on Tuesday.
That’s what I was thinking. I don’t think it’s time yet to declare a national emergency but I do believe tonight’s address will lay the foundation for such a decision if it happens.
Here’s the video: