Vice President Mike Pence said on Thursday that President Donald Trump is under the impression that he has "absolute" authority to declare a national emergency in order to build a wall on the Mexico border.
At a briefing with reporters at the U.S. Capitol, Pence insisted that Democrats have been unwilling to negotiate on what Republicans have called a border "crisis."
"It’s time for the Democrats to step up... It's time for the Democrats to negotiate," the vice president argued. "No wall, no deal."
Pence also asserted that Trump's authority to declare a national emergency is "absolute."
“The president believes he has an absolute right to declare a national emergency under his authority as president of the United States," the vice president said.
Read some tweets below from reporters who were in the room with Pence.
NEW … Hill press corps just sat down w @VP … “The president believe he has an absolute right to declare a nationa… https://t.co/p8C8bAO6RG— Jake Sherman (@Jake Sherman) 1547146326.0
@VP just wrapped up session with reporters in Capitol basement. Telling us “no wall, no deal” and that no decision… https://t.co/rV3dg1jlWa— Mark Meredith (@Mark Meredith) 1547146328.0
.@VP PENCE in Capitol: "No wall, no deal. Because walls work."— Scott Wong (@Scott Wong) 1547146427.0
“No wall, no deal,” Pence says in briefing at the Capitol. Repeatedly thanks congressional Rs for “standing strong”… https://t.co/J3LQ1Xd9LJ— Julie Davis (@Julie Davis) 1547146505.0
.@VP just had a sit down with Capitol Hill reporters some news here he said White House wants to wait until SCOTUS… https://t.co/xoTFHOo38h— Eliza Collins (@Eliza Collins) 1547146529.0
