Choose the Constitution or choose Trump: NYT draws a red line for Republicans

A New York Times editorial warned that Republicans must choose to uphold the Constitution or protect President Donald Trump, but that they cannot do both.

After Trump declared a national emergency Republicans have done little to stop it form taking effect.

"It is not too late to stop this legislative cop-out. Critical principles are at stake — Congress’s power of the purse, the separation of powers — that transcend any one declaration or leader. Members of both parties need to make clear that a presidential pique is not the same thing as a national emergency, that a president who fails to persuade Congress to support his priorities can’t then simply pursue them by fiat," the editorial said.

Trump declared a national emergency because he was unable to get his desired amount for border wall from Congress. The article then called out the GOP for a double standard on how they act on checks and balances in government.

"House Republicans once cared passionately about checks and balances and frequently accused President Barack Obama of abusing his authority. In 2016, one of the “Big Ideas” in the conference’s 'Better Way Agenda' was a pledge to end presidential overreach: 'Our President has been acting more like a monarch than an elected official. That stops now,'" they wrote.

Even though some Republicans have spoken out against Trump, they have put little action behind their words.

"Some Republicans dislike what Mr. Trump has done but have convinced themselves that there’s no point in voting for the resolution since the president will surely veto it," the report said.

"Republican lawmakers swore an oath to bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution and to well and faithfully discharge the duties of their office. Here’s their chance," the editorial said.

Read the full report here.