Trump predicts 9th Circuit will rule against emergency wall declaration

by Jordain Carney - 02/15/19 11:15 AM ET

President Trump predicted on Friday that the Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit will block his move to declare a national emergency to build the U.S.-Mexico border wall — but that he’ll win the fight at the Supreme Court.

Trump said he “expects” to get sued for the emergency declaration, which he signed on Friday, and that the case would go to the 9th Circuit, which has struck down some of his most controversial policies.

{mosads}”We will possibly get a bad ruling, and then we’ll get another bad ruling and then we’ll end up in the Supreme Court,” Trump said during a rambling White House press conference.

He added that hoped at the Supreme Court they’ll “get a fair shake and we’ll win in the Supreme Court, just like the [travel] ban”

In a bizarre sing-song cadence, Trump acknowledges that his national emergency will face legal challenges, but expresses hope that SCOTUS will eventually rule in his favor. pic.twitter.com/F4DCzKrsns

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 15, 2019

The 9th Circuit has been a perennial annoyance to conservatives, who believe it’s too large and too liberal, and the Trump administration in particular. The court has ruled against Trump’s travel ban and an effort to cut off federal funding for so-called sanctuary cities.

Republicans have been wary of Trump declaring a national emergency because they believe it will set a dangerous precedent and will be immediately challenged in court, prolonging the fight over the border wall that has dominated Washington for months.

But Trump projected confidence on Friday that his emergency declaration would ultimately survive a court challenge, saying it should “possibly the easiest one to win” because of a “virtual invasion” along the U.S.-Mexico border.

“I think we will be very successful in court,” he said. “Happily, we’ll win.”

Tags 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Donald Trump National Emergency declaration