Conceding defeat in his earlier demand that Congress provide him with $5.7 billion in wall money, Trump agreed to sign a government-funding bill that lacks money for his wall, but prevents another damaging government shutdown. But it ignores the wall, which Trump in his 2016 campaign promised Mexico would pay for, arguing it is needed to check illegal immigration and drugs. “President Trump will sign the government funding bill, and as he has stated before, he will also take other executive action - including a national emergency,” White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said. Earlier this month, McConnell had cautioned Trump that declaring an emergency could divide Senate Republicans, the Washington Post reported. A source said lawyers from the White House and other agencies had vetted the figures and believed they would withstand a legal challenge.

Source: bd News24 February 15, 2019 04:18 UTC