President Trump
Donald John TrumpTrump's newest Russia adviser, Andrew Peek, leaves post: report Hawley expects McConnell's final impeachment resolution to give White House defense ability to motion to dismiss Trump rips New York City sea wall: 'Costly, foolish' and 'environmentally unfriendly idea' MORE said on Friday that he "didn't need to" declare a national emergency but did it to speed up construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall.
Donald John TrumpTrump's newest Russia adviser, Andrew Peek, leaves post: report Hawley expects McConnell's final impeachment resolution to give White House defense ability to motion to dismiss Trump rips New York City sea wall: 'Costly, foolish' and 'environmentally unfriendly idea' MORE said on Friday that he "didn't need to" declare a national emergency but did it to speed up construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall."I want to do it faster. I could do the wall over a longer period of time. I didn't need to do this, but I'd rather do it much faster," Trump said during a press conference at the Rose Garden in the White House.
"I could do the wall over a longer period of time. I didn't need to do this, but I'd rather do it much faster," President Trump to @PeterAlexander on national emergency declaration to secure funding for border wall. https://t.co/bmuewGdv83 pic.twitter.com/8VwyqyZy7H
— NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt (@NBCNightlyNews) February 15, 2019
Trump acknowledged that he got $1.375 billion from Congress for roughly 55 miles of physical barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border but that he wasn't satisfied with the amount, which is significantly less than the $5.7 billion that he requested.
"I'm not happy with it," he said. "On the wall, they skimped."
Trump used a press conference on Friday to insist that a national emergency was needed, arguing that there was an "invasion" along the country's southern border.
But his statement that he didn't "need to" use the emergency declaration comes as his decision is all but guaranteed to be challenged in court.
Democrats immediately seized on Trump's remarks, with Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer
Charles (Chuck) Ellis SchumerTrump administration installs plaque marking finish of 100 miles of border wall Sanders defends vote against USMCA: 'Not a single damn mention' of climate change Schumer votes against USMCA, citing climate implications MORE (D-N.Y.) characterizing them as "unreal."
Charles (Chuck) Ellis SchumerTrump administration installs plaque marking finish of 100 miles of border wall Sanders defends vote against USMCA: 'Not a single damn mention' of climate change Schumer votes against USMCA, citing climate implications MORE (D-N.Y.) characterizing them as "unreal."“I didn’t need to do this, but I’d rather to do it much faster.” —President @realDonaldTrump
— Chuck Schumer
Mr. President, how can this possibly be an national emergency if you’re saying you don’t need to do it?
Unreal. #FakeTrumpEmergency
George Conway, the husband to White House advisor Kellyanne Conway
Kellyanne Elizabeth ConwayWhite House pushes back on Parnas allegations Trump suggests LBJ is in hell: 'He's probably looking down — or looking up' George Conway group releases ad targeting GOP senator: 'You're just another Trump servant' MORE, predicted that Trump's words would be used in legal filings aimed at blocking the executive order.
Kellyanne Elizabeth ConwayWhite House pushes back on Parnas allegations Trump suggests LBJ is in hell: 'He's probably looking down — or looking up' George Conway group releases ad targeting GOP senator: 'You're just another Trump servant' MORE, predicted that Trump's words would be used in legal filings aimed at blocking the executive order.This quote should be the first sentence of the first paragraph of every complaint filed this afternoon. https://t.co/ClHQhpTaEe
— George Conway (@gtconway3d) February 15, 2019
