The states, including California and New York, challenged President Trump’s “misuse of presidential power” in court after he announced plans to use $5.7bn (USD) in “emergency” funds for the wall through the National Emergencies Act (NEA).
The declaration came after Trump signed a bill to avoid another government shutdown – a bill he tried to bar only hours before – which the President said didn’t give him enough money to pay for the wall.
The NEA is traditionally intended for times of ‘national crisis’ – giving the president special powers that allow them to side-step the normal political process. Usually, it’s reserved for foreign policy disasters like terrorism or human rights abuses – not walls.
The lawsuit against Trump has called his decision to invoke the NEA for his border wall “unconstitutional and unlawful.”
“For most of us, the office of the presidency is not a place for theatre,” said California Attorney General Xavier Becerra.
Trump responded with a Tweet on Tuesday saying he “predicted” this response from “Open Border Democrats” before making fun of California’s recently stalled high-speed train project.
A very mature response, Mr President.
