News
Watch: Pelosi Invokes ‘Epidemic of Gun Violence’ in Warning Trump to Not Declare National Emergency for Wall

“Why don’t you declare that emergency, Mr. President?”
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi warned President Donald Trump that if he declares a national emergency to finance and build his border wall a Democratic president will have no problem declaring a national emergency to address school shootings and the “epidemic of gun violence in America.”
President Trump, according to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, will declare a national emergency to build his wall when he signs the bill funding the government and averting a shutdown.
“First of all, it’s not an emergency,” the Speaker told reporters late Thursday afternoon, referring to Trump’s desire to fulfill his campaign promise to build a wall – despite also having promised Mexico would pay for it. “The president has tried to sell a bill of goods to the American people.”
She accused President Trump of trying to make an “end run” around Congress, bypassing the Constitution’s mandate that Congress, and specifically the U.S. House of Representatives, holds the nation’s pursestrings.
“If the President can declare an emergency on something he has created as an emergency – an illusion that he wants to convey – just think of what a President with different values can present to the American people,” she warned.
“You want to talk about a national emergency? Let’s talk about today: The one-year anniversary of another manifestation of the epidemic of gun violence in America. That’s a national emergency. Why don’t you declare that emergency, Mr. President?”
Declaring a national emergency would be a lawless act, a gross abuse of the power of the presidency and a desperate attempt to distract from the fact that @realDonaldTrump broke his core promise to have Mexico pay for his wall.
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) February 14, 2019
In the year since 17 people, 14 of them students, were shot to death in Parkland, Florida at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas high school, nearly 1200 more have died in mass shootings.
Watch Speaker Pelosi’s remarks:
.@SpeakerPelosi: “When the president declares this emergency, first of all, it’s not an emergency what’s happening at the border.” She also says, “the president making an end run around Congress.” pic.twitter.com/viBObvmFzw
— CSPAN (@cspan) February 14, 2019
Enjoy this piece?
… then let us make a small request. The New Civil Rights Movement depends on readers like you to meet our ongoing expenses and continue producing quality progressive journalism. Three Silicon Valley giants consume 70 percent of all online advertising dollars, so we need your help to continue doing what we do.
NCRM is independent. You won’t find mainstream media bias here. From unflinching coverage of religious extremism, to spotlighting efforts to roll back our rights, NCRM continues to speak truth to power. America needs independent voices like NCRM to be sure no one is forgotten.
Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Help ensure NCRM remains independent long into the future. Support progressive journalism with a one-time contribution to NCRM, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you. Click here to donate by check.
![]() |