In a rambling Rose Garden press conference where he talked about China, fentanyl, and Ann Coulter, President Donald Trump announced that he would declare a national emergency to get the desired funding for his border wall.
Trump said he would sign a congressional spending bill averting a government shutdown and allocating over a billion dollars for border security, but that a national emergency was necessary to secure the rest of the money he wanted.
However, Trump, who has a history of contradicting himself all the time, also said: “I didn’t need to do this.”
One would think that if something was a national emergency, the president would need to do it, which is something a captivated Twitter crowd pointed out while watching his presser.
— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) February 15, 2019
“I didn’t need to do this,” Trump says of an emergency declaration that his attorneys will have to defend in court was justified by an emergency…
— Tal Kopan (@TalKopan) February 15, 2019
“I just want to get it done faster, that’s all."
Trump, questioned by @PeterAlexander, concedes there’s no national emergency to justify building his wall. “I didn’t need to do this.” “I just want to do it faster.” A gift to all the lawyers preparing to sue him.
— Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) February 15, 2019
"I didn't need to do this" is just rattling around in my brain
— Katherine Miller (@katherinemiller) February 15, 2019
https://twitter.com/darth/status/1096443638517719040
911: what's your emergency?
— Ma'sOnTwittah (@MareBets) February 15, 2019
caller: "I didn't need to do this"
911: sir, this number is for emergencies only #FAKENationalEmergency #FakeTrumpEmergency
Trump says he will sign a national emergency and then inexplicably admits "I didn't need to do this" about that same national emergency moments later. Holy shit. That's not going to hold up in court very well, Mr. Stable Genius.
— Adam Best (@adamcbest) February 15, 2019
pic.twitter.com/vP75HGVlu3
In the press conference, Trump noted that his national emergency was likely going to be challenged in courts. It’s also very likely his own words will be used against him.
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