Trump To Divert $6 Billion From Defense Budget For Border Wall With State Of Emergency Proclamation
President Donald Trump lashed out at reporters and his political enemies on Friday morning. Congress was to blame for lack of fundings for a border wall, former Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan was reprimanded for his inaction when the GOP had hold of both chambers, and of course, the media was accused of being indifferent to the “crisis” at the southern border.
Trump then announced that he was going to declare a state of emergency and divert more than $6 billion to build and repair up to 234 miles of a border barrier without the approval of Congress.
“People that should have stepped up did not step up,” Trump told reporters. “They didn’t step up and they should have…. We are stepping up now.”
The state of emergency declaration by the president came after the he fell far short of his goal of securing $5.7 billion for the wall. The president was forced to end his government shutdown, the longest in American history, without achieving his goal. The spending deal approved by Congress on Thursday included just $1.375 for border security.
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“I didn’t need to do this, but I’d rather do it faster,” Trump said. “I want to get it done faster, that’s all.”
For 45 minutes, Trump ad-libbed a speech, rejecting his written remarks and teleprompters. The president touched on topics ranging from North Korea to President Barack Obama. “He was there for about 15 seconds and got the Nobel prize,” Trump said.
The president then denied that he was building the wall as part of his reelection bid. “I don’t have to do it for the election. I have already done a lot of wall for the election 2020.” he said. “And the only reason we are up here talking about this is because of the election, because they want to try to win an election, which it looks like they will not be able to do.”
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