White House strategic communications director Mercedes Schlapp said on Wednesday that President Trump wants Congress to reach a legislative deal for the border, despite repeated signals that he’s considering an emergency declaration to build his wall.
“We really want Congress to find the legislative fix, to ensure that we have the necessary resources,” Schlapp told Hill.TV’s Buck Sexton and Krystal Ball on “Rising.”
“That’s what we want to accomplish. See if Congress can get to a deal, and then from there, we’ll see what out options are,” she said.
Lawmakers have until Feb. 15 to work out a deal to fund parts of the government and secure the border.
Democrats have refused to fund Trump’s border wall — a signature issue of his campaign. Trump has refused to agree to fencing or barriers that would fall short of a wall.
The president has repeatedly said he could declare a national emergency to build a wall, which would circumvent congressional authority to pay for the wall.
In his State of the Union address on Tuesday, however, Trump called on lawmakers to “work together” and “reach a deal” on the border wall.
“Simply put, walls work and walls save lives,” he said. “So let’s work together, compromise and reach a deal that will truly make America safe.”
— Julia Manchester
hilltv copyright