Trump says he’s ‘set the stage’ for wall action

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump says congressional negotiations over border security are a “waste of time,” while insisting he has “set the stage” to take action on his own if lawmakers don’t provide funding for his border wall.

Trump tells The New York Times in an interview published Thursday night that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi “is hurting our country very badly by doing what’s she doing and, ultimately, I think I’ve set the table very nicely.”

Trump adds: “I’ll continue to build the wall, and we’ll get the wall finished. Now whether or not I declare a national emergency – that you’ll see.”

Trump has threatened to declare a national emergency to get the wall built, but such a move would be challenged in court, tying up the money indefinitely.