After the longest US Government Shutdown in history on a run off against a Democrat House, and caving after a 35-day confrontation, President Trump declared a National Emergency as a last attempt to get funding for his Wall. Trump finally signed the latest funding bill, which includes a mere $1.5 billion for his promised Wall, (way below the 5 billion he asked for) to avert a second shutdown, but his declaration of a National Emergency is alarming.
We have already talked about the lies behind his obsession with a Wall on the Southern border, and his fear of losing his base, especially with 2020 looming in. But what is a National Emergency, exactly? And, most importantly, how will it affect you?
First, let’s be on the same page about what it is. A National Emergency is any extraordinary situation deemed by the President to threaten the well-being of Americans and that cannot be tackled by normal procedures. A national emergency grants the president special powers, but the reasons for declaring one and the measures to be applied are entirely up to the president.
National Emergencies are not that uncommon and aren’t usually met with this much controversy. However, that doesn’t apply to Trump, a President who has shown disregard for liberal democracy and who has gone as far as praising both authoritarian leaders and outright dictators like Vladimir Putin, Rodrigo Duterte, and Kim Jong Un. He also refused to condemn Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed bin Salman, even though the CIA officially concluded he was mostly likely responsible for the gruesome murder of reporter Jamal Kashoggi. That being said, it’s not the National Emergency declaration itself which is alarming, but his warlike attitude towards checks and balances, and his aggressive move to overcome opposition.
Make no mistake, though: this is Trump clutching at straws. His sole argument to declare a National Emergency is that the Mexico-US border is not secure and that there is a humanitarian crisis going on. This has been repeatedly disputed by experts, pundits, journalists, Democrats, and even Republicans, who appear to be well aware Trump is heading towards his own undoing. To further understand what this could mean here are three points on how the National Emergency could affect you.
1. He might switch off the internet
Trump is legally allowed to take control of the US internet infrastructure, and while he’ll hardly be able to reach levels like those in China or Russia, he doesn’t need to. Trump has previously talked about how search engines are quote, un-quote rigged. He could try to ensure that searches always throw pro-Trump content as top results. The government could also prevent access to certain websites and social-media platforms, monitor e-mails, or prevent them from reaching their recipient.
2. Deployment of troops on US soil
This might seem far-fetched, but there are a number of precedents. Eisenhower did it to enforce desegregation, and George H. W. Bush sent troops to the LA riots back in 1992. While they were controversial, they didn’t exactly imply overreach.
Trump, however, is ripe for a misuse of force. In 2017, he threatened to “send in the Feds” to Chicago’s “horrible carnage.” What if it weren’t Chicago, but the gangs and hordes of immigrants he so tirelessly makes up?
Unlike other democracies, the United States does not have a clear guideline towards what a President can and can’t do during a national emergency, so it’s not even clear if Trump will even have access to funds, or if the National Emergency is just a last ditch resource.
3. Bank Accounts
Under a National Emergency, a President can legally freeze assets and block financial transactions that interest any foreigner or national. Once a person falls under suspicion of being a threat, no American can legally give him a job, rent him an apartment, provide him with medical services, or even sell him a loaf of bread unless the government grants a license to allow the transaction. And the basis for considering them a threat are very opaque and difficult to challenge. What if it’s charities, foundations, and pro-immigrant civil rights organizations?
It’s one thing to declare a national emergency, and another to carry out what he’s thinking. These declarations will surely be met with resistance. All we can do now is wait and see how it turns out.
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