Twenty-days later the government remains closed. It’s now the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
President Donald Trump and the Democrats are still at an impasse, unable to come to an agreement on border security. Trump wants $5 billion for his promised border wall and the Democrats are unwilling to give into Trump’s demand.
Now, with the government still partially shut, both are playing the public relations game. Trump blames the Democrats for the shutdown and likewise Democratic leadership says the president is to blame.
However, one of the ideas that has been discussed and floated out there in order to get the money for Trump’s wall is for the president to declare a national emergency on the souther border.
Understanding the precedent this would set for the Executive Branch, Trump, at least now, seems reluctant to call for a national emergency.
President Trump: "I'm not looking to call a national emergency. This is so simple, you shouldn't have to. Now I have the absolute legal right to call it but I'm not looking to do that because this is too simple." https://t.co/M0PybKCvEY pic.twitter.com/zZy3mQaNmy
— The Hill (@thehill) January 15, 2019