President Trump did not, as some expected, declare a national emergency in his Tuesday night speech about the need for a border wall. But Trump made clear on Thursday that the controversial move is still very much a possibility. "If this doesn't work out, probably I will do it," Trump told reporters, with "this" referring to talks with Democrats. "I would almost say definitely." He even added that it would be "surprising to me" if he didn't end up making the declaration, reports the Hill. Trump's comments came as he headed to Texas to visit the Southern border (for an update on that trip, see what he had to say while at the border here). Related coverage on the wall and the related government shutdown, now in Day 20:
- Notable line: When asked by a reporter if "the buck stops with you over this shutdown," Trump replied with a twist on the classic sentiment once put forth by Harry Truman. "The buck stops with everybody," said Trump, per the Week.
- Competing messages: Trump on Thursday quoted Steve Doocy of Fox and Friends saying that the president's supporters don't want him to cave on the border wall issue. "I won't!" wrote Trump. Co-host Brian Kilmeade, however, said that an emergency declaration "would be a disaster in the big picture" and would set a "terrible precedent," per the Hill. Kilmeade raised the possibility of a future Democratic president declaring an emergency over climate change.