Trump Says He’s Considering Declaring National Emergency to Build Wall

President Donald Trump, speaking from the Rose Garden on Friday, said he was considering declaring a national emergency to build his wall without congressional approval.

ABC News correspondent Terry Moran asked Trump — after the network reported the president was considering was declaring a national emergency — was actually mulling such a move.

“Have you considered using emergency powers to grant yourself authorities to build this wall without congressional approval?” Moran asked.

“Yes I have,” Trump replied. “And I can do it if I want.”

“We could call a national emergency and do it very quickly,” Trump said. “But if we can do it through a negotiated process, we’re giving it a shot.”

“Is that a threat hanging over the Democrats?” Moran asked.

“I never threaten anybody,” Trump replied. “But I am allowed to do that.”

Trump’s address came after a meeting with Democratic lawmakers over the ongoing government shutdown. The president has demanded funding for his border wall, which new House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) have forcefully rejected.

Trump called his meeting with Democrats “productive” before railing about violence at the border, from human trafficking, to drug trafficking, to murders committed by illegal immigrants — which he blamed on weak border security.

“We need border security,” Trump said, adding he wanted American steel companies to manufacture his barriers.

Watch above, via Fox News.

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