[PJ] WASHINGTON -- President Trump said it's necessary to use eminent domain to seize border properties like any other infrastructure project, and warned at a Rose Garden press conference today that he has thought about using "emergency powers" to grant himself authority to build a wall without the approval of Congress.
"We could call a national emergency because of the security of our country. Absolutely. No, we could do it. I haven't done it. I may do it. I may do it. But we could call a national emergency and build it very quickly and it's another way of doing it," he said. "But if we can do it through a negotiated process, we're giving that a shot."
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-Wash.) countered such a declaration would be a misuse of military construction readiness funds. "This is as clear a statement as any that President Trump values the construction of his wall over military readiness and support for our troops and their families," Smith said.
Trump had just emerged from the second White House meeting this week with congressional leaders to negotiate an end to the government shutdown. |