Trump declares emergency for wall

Washington, February 15 

US President Donald Trump on Friday declared a national emergency in a bid to fund his promised wall at the US-Mexico border without congressional approval, an action Democrats vowed to challenge as a violation of the Constitution.

The President’s move circumventing Congress represented a new approach to a 2016 presidential campaign pledge to halt the flow of immigrants into the country, which Trump maintains spreads crime and drugs. The move would help Trump get $5.7 billion for the construction of the wall that, he has asserted, is essential for national security. 

He was also expected to sign a bipartisan government spending Bill Congress approved on Thursday that would prevent another partial shutdown by funding several agencies that otherwise would have closed on Saturday.  Trump made no direct mention in his Rose Garden comments of the funding Bill, which represents a legislative defeat for him since it contains no money for his proposed wall — the focus of weeks of conflict between him and Democrats in Congress.

Trump’s demand that Congress provide him with $5.7 billion in wall funding as part of legislation to fund the agencies triggered a historic, 35-day government shutdown that damaged the US economy and his opinion poll numbers.

By reorienting his wall-funding quest toward a legally uncertain strategy based on declaring a national emergency, Trump now risks plunging into a lengthy battle with Democrats and dividing his fellow Republicans.

Fifteen Democrats in the Senate introduced legislation on Thursday to prevent the transfer of funds from accounts Trump likely would target to pay for the wall. Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic speaker of the House of Representatives, and Chuck Schumer, the Senate’s top Democrat, responded to Trump’s declaration. “The President’s actions violate the Congress’ exclusive power of the purse, which our Founders enshrined in the Constitution. The Congress will defend our constitutional authorities in the Congress, in the courts, and in the public, using every remedy available,” they said. 

The NY  attorney general, Letitia James, said her office would also challenge Trump in court. Trump acknowledged that his order would face a lengthy legal fight. “We’ll win in the Supreme Court,” he predicted. — Agencies

Prez has put on weight, but in good health: doc

Washington: President Donald Trump is technically obese and has put on weight since last year, but his official doctor declared him Thursday to be in “very good health.” The presidential physician, Sean Conley, said Trump, 72, passed his medical exam last week with flying colors. “It is my determination that the president remains in very good health overall,” he said in a brief statement. 

Trump, who has penchant for junk food and avoidance of strenuous exercise, weighs 110 kg, the report said. — AFP

US-China’s trade talks next week 

Beijing: The trade talks between China and the US will continue in Washington next week after both sides made “progress” but not enough to seal a final deal, ahead of a planned American tariff hike on US$ 200 billion of Chinese imports from March 2. Top officials from the world’s two biggest economies wrapped up the two-days of talks here on Friday in a bid to at least create sufficient goodwill to stave off an escalation of their tariff war. PTI