President Trump on Thursday delivered a concise response to the Senate’s vote to nix his national emergency at the southwest border: “VETO!”
Trump tweeted the message minutes after the Republican-controlled Senate passed a resolution of disapproval 59-41, a stinging rebuke that will tee up the president using his veto powers for the first time.
The president has not yet officially vetoed the measure, which has not been enrolled and delivered to the White House, but was instead reiterating his plans to do so.{mosads}
“I look forward to VETOING the just passed Democrat inspired Resolution which would OPEN BORDERS while increasing Crime, Drugs, and Trafficking in our Country,” Trump wrote in a subsequent tweet.
A dozen Republicans broke with Trump and voted with all Democrats to pass the resolution on Thursday, with many lawmakers saying the emergency declaration violated the Constitution’s separation of powers.
Trump has framed the vote as a referendum on his immigration policies and harangued GOP senators to stand by his side, saying the issue will play well in the 2020 election.
“I thank all of the Strong Republicans who voted to support Border Security and our desperately needed WALL!” the president tweeted Thursday afternoon.
–Updated at 4:02 p.m.