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Trump visits border amid US shutdown wall row | Trump visits border amid US shutdown wall row |
(about 2 hours later) | |
US President Donald Trump has threatened again to declare a national emergency to fund a border wall without Congress's approval. | US President Donald Trump has threatened again to declare a national emergency to fund a border wall without Congress's approval. |
"I have the absolute right to declare a national emergency," he told reporters as he headed to an event at the border. | "I have the absolute right to declare a national emergency," he told reporters as he headed to an event at the border. |
He also said Mexico would "indirectly" pay for the wall - contradicting an earlier campaign memo. | He also said Mexico would "indirectly" pay for the wall - contradicting an earlier campaign memo. |
The government has been in partial shutdown for 20 days, leaving about 800,000 federal employees without pay. | The government has been in partial shutdown for 20 days, leaving about 800,000 federal employees without pay. |
President Trump refuses to sign legislation to fund and reopen the government if it does not include $5.7bn (£4.5bn) for a physical barrier along the US-Mexico border. | President Trump refuses to sign legislation to fund and reopen the government if it does not include $5.7bn (£4.5bn) for a physical barrier along the US-Mexico border. |
But budget talks have come to a standstill as Democrats - who control the House of Representatives - refuse to give him the money. | But budget talks have come to a standstill as Democrats - who control the House of Representatives - refuse to give him the money. |
Republican leaders insist the party stands behind the president, although some Republican lawmakers have spoken out in favour of ending the shutdown. | Republican leaders insist the party stands behind the president, although some Republican lawmakers have spoken out in favour of ending the shutdown. |
How could Trump pay for the wall without Congress? | How could Trump pay for the wall without Congress? |
On Thursday, Mr Trump visited a border patrol station in McAllen, in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. | On Thursday, Mr Trump visited a border patrol station in McAllen, in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. |
He said that if Congress did not approve funding for the wall, he would "probably... I would almost say definitely" declare a national emergency to bypass lawmakers. | He said that if Congress did not approve funding for the wall, he would "probably... I would almost say definitely" declare a national emergency to bypass lawmakers. |
Analysts say that while presidents can direct military construction projects during war or national emergencies, the move would almost certainly face a legal challenge, and be accused of violating constitutional procedures. | Analysts say that while presidents can direct military construction projects during war or national emergencies, the move would almost certainly face a legal challenge, and be accused of violating constitutional procedures. |
The money would also have to come from funds allocated by Congress for other purposes - which some Republicans would also oppose. | The money would also have to come from funds allocated by Congress for other purposes - which some Republicans would also oppose. |
One of his supporters though, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, said it was "time for President Trump to use emergency powers to fund the construction of a border wall/barrier". | |
Democratic Senator Joe Manchin said that while a national emergency declaration by Mr Trump would be "wrong", it may be the president's "only way out" of the deadlock. | |
Analysts say such a move would provide political cover to reopen government while allowing Mr Trump to argue he had done all he could to fulfil one of his main campaign promises. | |
Mr Trump has been briefed on one plan that would involve diverting funding allocated to reconstruction projects in disaster areas, including Puerto Rico, to pay for the wall, US media report. | |
How did Trump make his case for the wall? | How did Trump make his case for the wall? |
Mr Trump spoke at McAllen station, behind a display of weapons and cash said to have been seized by the border patrol. | |
He was joined by border patrol agents, and relatives of people killed by illegal immigrants. | |
"If we don't have a barrier... you're not going to be able to solve this problem," he said, adding that people faced "hard work", "gruelling problems" and "a lot of death" without it. | "If we don't have a barrier... you're not going to be able to solve this problem," he said, adding that people faced "hard work", "gruelling problems" and "a lot of death" without it. |
Mr Trump added: "They say a wall is medieval... There are some things that work." | Mr Trump added: "They say a wall is medieval... There are some things that work." |
Has Trump changed his pledge on funding the wall? | Has Trump changed his pledge on funding the wall? |
Mr Trump made the border wall a key campaign promise - and pledged to make Mexico pay for it. | Mr Trump made the border wall a key campaign promise - and pledged to make Mexico pay for it. |
However, speaking on Thursday, Mr Trump claimed he never meant that Mexico would make a one-time payment. | However, speaking on Thursday, Mr Trump claimed he never meant that Mexico would make a one-time payment. |
"When I said Mexico would pay for the wall in front of thousands and thousands of people... obviously I never meant Mexico would write a cheque," he said. | "When I said Mexico would pay for the wall in front of thousands and thousands of people... obviously I never meant Mexico would write a cheque," he said. |
However, this is contradicted by an archived campaign memo from 2016, where Mr Trump outlined how he planned to "compel Mexico to make a one-time payment" of $5-10bn (£4bn-£8bn) for the wall. | However, this is contradicted by an archived campaign memo from 2016, where Mr Trump outlined how he planned to "compel Mexico to make a one-time payment" of $5-10bn (£4bn-£8bn) for the wall. |
Mr Trump said on Thursday that, instead of a direct payment, Mexico would be "paying for the wall indirectly, many, many times over", under a new trade deal between the US, Mexico and Canada. | |
Economists have disputed this and critics say that any savings incurred due to the deal would go directly to private businesses rather than flow into US Treasury. | Economists have disputed this and critics say that any savings incurred due to the deal would go directly to private businesses rather than flow into US Treasury. |
How is the shutdown progressing? | How is the shutdown progressing? |
Partial shutdowns occur when Congress cannot agree a budget by a certain deadline or the president refuses to sign it. | Partial shutdowns occur when Congress cannot agree a budget by a certain deadline or the president refuses to sign it. |
This shutdown, which began on 22 December, has closed 25% of the government. Of the 800,000 federal employees affected, about 350,000 are furloughed - a kind of temporary lay off - and the rest are working without pay. | This shutdown, which began on 22 December, has closed 25% of the government. Of the 800,000 federal employees affected, about 350,000 are furloughed - a kind of temporary lay off - and the rest are working without pay. |
Shutdown negotiations failed on Wednesday when Mr Trump walked out of a meeting with Democratic leaders. | Shutdown negotiations failed on Wednesday when Mr Trump walked out of a meeting with Democratic leaders. |
The president called the meeting "a total waste of time" after top Democrats Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer refused to budge on agreeing to legislation that includes funding for a wall. | The president called the meeting "a total waste of time" after top Democrats Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer refused to budge on agreeing to legislation that includes funding for a wall. |
The first pay day since the shutdown falls on Friday and will pass without workers getting salaries. | The first pay day since the shutdown falls on Friday and will pass without workers getting salaries. |
Hundreds of federal workers, contractors and supporters rallied outside the White House on Thursday in protest against the shutdown. | Hundreds of federal workers, contractors and supporters rallied outside the White House on Thursday in protest against the shutdown. |
This weekend the shutdown will become the longest in US history. | This weekend the shutdown will become the longest in US history. |