President Trump’s national emergency declaration for border wall funding is little more than a face-saving exercise that will immediately be challenged by the courts. Yet by taking the bold step of declaring a national emergency at the border, where illegal crossings have fallen dramatically since the beginning of the century, Trump further alienates moderates, independents, and even other Republicans. He also sets a dangerous precedent that a President Warren could use to declare a national emergency on income inequality, the gender pay gap, or climate change. Courageous Republicans must tell Trump to put the losing anti-immigration issue behind him and reach out to all voters with a uniting pro-growth message if they want to win in 2020.
