President Trump threatened to declare a national emergency to get his wall. Can he do that?

President Trump at the White House on Thursday. Credit: Jabin Botsford, The Washington Post

This time, President Trump is right about the law.

As the partial government shutdown entered its third week, Trump announced Friday he is flirting with the idea of declaring a national emergency and circumventing Congress to begin construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall.

“I can do it if I want,” Trump said. And legally speaking, he can.

View the complete January 7 article by Deanna Paul on The Washington Post website here.