Monitoring Desk
WASHINGTON: President Trump used his veto powers for the first time Friday to overturn a Congressional resolution that would have blocked him from using defense funds to build the border wall with Mexico.
“Today I am vetoing this resolution. Congress has the freedom to pass this resolution and I have the duty to veto it,” he said.
The resolution passed the GOP-controlled Senate 59-41 — with 12 Republicans defying the president — after being approved by the Democratic-controlled House.
But the Senate doesn’t have the 67 votes needed for an override.
Trump called the move by Congress “reckless” and applauded the “strong, wonderful” Republicans who stuck with him.
“They were very courageous yesterday and I appreciate that very much,” he said.
Later, he let the rogue Republicans off the hook. “I didn’t need the votes. We all knew it’s going to be a veto, and there’s not going to be an override,” the president told reporters gathered in the room.
Trump surrounded himself with law enforcement professionals, who sang him praises, and so-called “Angel Moms,” mothers of Americans killed by illegal immigrants.
The president pledged that their children “will not have died in vain.”
Trump declared a national emergency as a maneuver to free up billions for construction of the wall, despite public warnings from many prominent Republicans that Congress would view that as a precedent-setting infringement of its powers.
Courtesy: (nypost.com)
