Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced on Thursday that President Donald Trump plans to sign a compromise border security bill. However, he will then declare a national emergency in order to secure further funding for his border wall.
“He has indicated he is prepared to sign the bill. He will also be issuing a national emergency declaration at the same time,” McConnell said. “I’ve indicated to him that I’m going to support the national emergency declaration. So for all of my colleagues, the President will sign the bill. We will be voting on it shortly.”
Some Republicans had expressed concern that Trump would refuse to sign the spending compromise. According to CNN, Trump called GOP supporters on Capitol Hill to vent about the bill’s shortcomings, which lead some to believe that he had backed away from his previous support of the compromise.
While the compromise legislation has now passed the Senate, it must still face a vote in the House of Representatives, though it is expected to pass there as well. However, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi accused the President of “doing an end run around Congress,” and threatened that Democrats may take challenge any emergency declaration in court. “That’s an option and we will review our options,” Pelosi said.
This story is breaking and will be updated as we have more information.
