Trump tweets 'VETO!' after Senate rejects his border emergency declaration

The US Senate on Thursday voted to reject President Donald Trump's declaration of an emergency on the US Mexico border, prompting a swift response from the 72-year-old leader who tweeted 'veto', an indication that he would reject the resolution.

The Republican-controlled Senate voted to disapprove the emergency declaration by 59 votes to 41, in what was a sharp rebuke to Trump, who will be forced to use his veto powers for the first time in his presidency, The Hill reported.

The resolution was already passed in the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives by 245 votes to 182 last month, with 13 Republicans supporting the Democrats. It will now head towards Trump, who has threatened to veto the measure if it came to him.

Minutes after the vote, Trump tweeted in capitals, "VETO!"

Interestingly, twelve Republicans broke ranks to side with the Democrats to pass the resolution, with many of them saying that the emergency declaration is a violating of the American Constitution.

Trump said that he was looking forward to "vetoing" what he called the "Democrat-inspired resolution" and thanked his fellow Republicans for supporting the need of a border wall along the US-Mexico border.

"I look forward to VETOING the just passed Democrat inspired Resolution which would OPEN BORDERS while increasing Crime, Drugs, and Trafficking in our Country. I thank all of the Strong Republicans who voted to support Border Security and our desperately needed WALL!" read a second tweet by Trump.

The US President has labelled the resolution as a "referendum" on his immigration policies and has asked the Republicans to back his move, saying that the issue will play a crucial aspect in the 2020 presidential election.

On February 15, a defiant Trump declared a national emergency to bypass Congress and fulfill his long-pending demand of building the wall along the border with Mexico. Defending his move, the US President asserted that he had "no choice" but to use his emergency powers to stop illegal immigrants spreading crime and drugs.

Acknowledging that his move could be challenged legally, Trump remarked that his decision would eventually prevail. He said that he could wait for a "long time" to build his long-called barrier, but added that he wanted to move "faster" in this regard.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, the top two Democrats in the Congress, criticised Trump for his decision and said that they would use "every available remedy" to revoke the "unlawful" emergency declaration.