Donald Trump threatens to call national emergency to fund wall
Lawmakers remain deadlocked with US president over funding for border wall

Donald Trump has told reporters he is considering declaring a national emergency to secure funding to build a border wall between the US and Mexico.
“I may declare a national emergency dependent on what's going to happen over the next few days,” Trump said, following fruitless meetings with Democrats to find a solution to the political stalemate behind a partial government shutdown.
By declaring a national emergency, Trump would be able to use military funding to build a border wall.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Vice President Mike Pence held a meeting with congressional leaders yesterday, however after the meeting “there was little indication they were getting close to a deal to reopen the government”, CNN says.
The acting budget director Russell Vought did, however, provide more details for the funding request in a letter outlining billions of dollars worth of spending for which the Trump administration is holding out.
It includes $5.7 billion for a “steel barrier”, which Vought described as “a physical infrastructure to provide requisite impedance and denial”, along with a further $800 million to address “urgent humanitarian needs”.
Additionally, the letter calls for $798 million to fund more detention beds, and $571 million for an extra 2,000 law enforcement officers.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The Washington Post says that talks on the weekend to try to end the government shutdown failed in part because the White House “hasn’t been forthcoming about how the money would be used or why the request is for so much more than the administration sought only a few months ago”.
-
Violent videos of Charlie Kirk’s death are renewing debate over online censorship
Talking Points Social media ‘promises unfiltered access, but without guarantees of truth and without protection from harm’
-
What led to Poland invoking NATO’s Article 4 and where could it lead?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION After a Russian drone blitz, Warsaw’s rare move to invoke the important NATO statute has potentially moved Europe closer to continent-wide warfare
-
Africa could become the next frontier for space programs
The Explainer China and the US are both working on space applications for Africa
-
Russia slams Kyiv, hits government building
Speed Read This was Moscow's largest aerial assault since launching its full-scale invasion in 2022
-
China's Xi hosts Modi, Putin, Kim in challenge to US
Speed Read Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin and other Asian leaders at an SCO summit
-
What is Tony Blair's plan for Gaza?
Today's Big Question Former PM has reportedly been putting together a post-war strategy 'for the past several months'
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American cities
Under the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
What will security guarantees for Ukraine look like?
Today's Big Question From boots on the ground to economic sanctions, here are the measures that might stop Russia taking another bite out of Ukraine
-
Will Ukraine trade territory for peace?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION Kyiv’s defences are wearing thin but a land swap is constitutionally impossible and crosses Zelenskyy's red lines
-
Russia tries Ukraine land grab before Trump summit
Speed Read The incursion may be part of Putin's efforts to boost his bargaining position
-
Europe counters Putin ahead of Trump summit
Speed Read President Trump will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska this week for Ukraine peace talks