President Donald Trump may declare a national emergency during his State of the Union address. On Sunday, when asked about declaring a national emergency, Trump said, "I'm saying, listen closely to the State of the Union. I think you'll find it very exciting."
"I don't want to say -- you'll hear the State of the Union and then you'll see what happens right after the State of the Union," Trump added.
Watch Trump's State of the Union address live:
President Donald Trump is able to declare a national emergency to secure $5.7 billion-dollars for the construction of the border wall. If he does declare a a national emergency, the funds would not require congressional approval.
The National Emergencies Act, signed by President Gerald Ford in 1976, allows Presidents to expand their power during a crisis. The act reads: "During the period of a national emergency, of any special or extraordinary power, the President is authorized to declare such national emergency. Such proclamation shall immediately be transmitted to the Congress and published in the Federal Register." Not only that, if President Trump declare a national emergency and funds the wall, he'll be provided "legal cover." It's unlikely the Supreme Court will interfere with the national emergency.
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Photo used under Creative Commons from Gage Skidmore