Trump begins by vetoing the targeting of Congress's rejection of its emergency declaration

President Trump on Friday issued the first veto of his presidency to get federal money for the construction of a border wall promised to candidates, and considers a crucial priority for reelection, ending a week of confrontation with both parties policies.

"Today, I veto this resolution. Congress has the freedom to pass this resolution and I have a duty to veto it, "Trump told the Oval Office.

Twelve Republicans had joined the Democrats to challenge Trump 's emergency declaration at the US – Mexico border, which would allow the president to bypass Congress and spend billions of dollars on building walls.

The rare reprimand of members of his own party was symbolically important, but Congress does not have the votes to overturn Trump's veto.

"I want to thank all the great Republican senators who have bravely voted for enhanced border security and the wall," said Trump before his veto. "It will help stop crime, human trafficking and drugs entering our country. Look, when you return to your state, they will love you more than ever!

His re-election campaign also aimed to raise funds for the issue, sending a message to supporters named Trump: "I'm looking forward to VETOING the Dem, an inspired resolution, OPEN BORDERS & Pro-Crime! Donate now for the wall and we will TRIPLE MATCH your gift. "

Moments after the Senate voted 59 to 41 to disagree with its emergency statement on Thursday, Trump gave his answer in one word: "VETO!

Most Republicans who defected did so in protest against the president's methods and their fear of the precedent of overruling the executive rather than the underlying debate over whether or not a border wall. Democrats and some Republicans have challenged the statement as a blow to the separation of powers.

Trump had sought to frame the debate in terms of immigration, saying that Republican senators who supported border security had to back him in the emergency declaration.

Trump also claimed to have the legal authority to act.

A letter from the Ministry of Justice to congressional leaders details the defense of Trump's statement of urgency, saying the president was authorized to do so by the 1976 National Emergency Act.

"The president acted within his discretion by declaring a national emergency on the southern border," says the Justice Department in a letter the Washington Post reviewed a copy of.

The letter, which draws much of its reasoning from the analysis conducted by the Office of the Legal Counsel of the Department of Justice, reports on various crises for which former presidents have stated that the law imposes emergency situations.

"Many of these emergencies have focused on less threatening issues than the current crisis on the southern border. For example, previous national emergency declarations have authorized the use of legal powers to prevent the importation of uncut diamonds. . . and promote democracy or conflict resolution in various countries of the world. . . Presidents exercised broad discretion to determine which challenges and situations constitute national emergencies. "

The letter, sent last week to the main Democratic and Republican party in the Senate, goes on to say that the situation at the border has worsened.

"The situation at the border has also deteriorated as the population of migrants crossing the border has shifted from that composed mainly of single adults from Mexico, who could often be repatriated quickly, to a mixed population. From a large number of families and children in Central America – people who currently can not be detained in significant numbers and who are generally more difficult to return, "says the letter. "This evolution has put a strain on border security resources. The President's Emergency Proclamation has reasonably described the current situation as an ongoing "humanitarian and border security crisis".

A letter from the Justice Ministry to congressional leaders details the legal arguments defending Trump 's emergency declaration, claiming that the president was authorized to do so by the National Emergencies Act passed by Congress in 1976.

"The president has acted within his discretion in declaring a national emergency on the southern border," said the Justice Department in a letter, a copy of which was reviewed by the Washington Post.

The letter, which draws heavily on the analysis made by the Office of the Legal Counsel of the Justice Department, then notes the various less serious crises for which the former presidents declared the law an emergency.

"Many of these emergencies have focused on less threatening issues than the current crisis on the southern border. For example, previous national emergency declarations have authorized the use of legal powers to prevent the importation of uncut diamonds. . . and promote democracy or conflict resolution in various countries of the world. . . Presidents exercised broad discretion to determine which challenges and situations constitute national emergencies. "

The letter, sent last week to the main Democratic and Republican party in the Senate, goes on to say that the situation at the border has worsened.

"The situation at the border has also deteriorated as the population of migrants crossing the border has shifted from that composed mainly of single adults from Mexico, who could often be repatriated quickly, to a mixed population. From a large number of families and children in Central America – people who currently can not be detained in significant numbers and who are generally more difficult to return, "says the letter. "This change put considerable pressure on border security resources."

In clashing with Trump on Thursday, only one Republican who should be re-elected next year – Susan Collins of Maine – voted for the disapproval resolution.

In addition to Collins, the other GOP Senators who voted for the resolution were Lamar Alexander (Tennessee), Roy Blunt (Missouri), Mike Lee (Utah), Jerry Moran (Kan.), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Rand Paul ( Ky.), Mitt Romney (Utah), Marco Rubio (Florida), Patrick J. Toomey (Pa.), Rob Portman (Ohio) and Roger Wicker (Miss.).

Senator Thom Tillis (CR), another senator who was to be re-elected in a politically divided state, announced last month that he would vote for the resolution of disapproval. At the time, he was writing an opinion piece in the Washington Post, claiming that there would be "no intellectual honesty" to support the overruling of executive power by Trump whom he opposed under President Barack Obama.

But on Thursday, Tillis voted with the president, saying he was reassured by indications that Trump would support changes to the national emergency law to limit presidential powers, and that his GOP colleagues had also supported such legislation.

The vote came one day after the Senate called for an end to US military support for the Saudi government's war in Yemen, marking for the second time in two days that an essentially Trump-friendly Senate had taken a stand against him.