"We're looking at a national emergency because we have a national emergency -- just read the papers," Trump told reporters at the White House on Sunday. It's really dependent on the Democrats," Trump said on Sunday. If Trump does make good on his threat to declare a national emergency, he would be on contested ground. The judiciary and Congress also have the right to challenge a President's definition of a national emergency. He is currently being served by an acting defense secretary, an acting attorney general, an acting White House chief of staff and a White House counsel's office that is regarded as understaffed.

Source: CNN January 07, 2019 06:45 UTC