At an event Donald Trump had billed as a “major briefing” on the opioid crisis gripping America, the president on Tuesday stressed that “strong, strong law enforcement” was vital and rebuffed an official call to declare a national emergency. Some had expected Trump to to declare such an emergency after his opioids commission force described this move in recent days as the “first and more urgent recommendation”. “We’re also working with law enforcement officers to protect innocent citizens from drug dealers that poison our communities,” Trump said. Price was repeatedly asked later by reporters why the president was not declaring a national emergency. Price said: “The president certainly believes that it is, that we will treat it as an emergency – and it is an emergency.

Source: The Guardian August 08, 2017 21:33 UTC