In the first 100 days of his presidency, Donald Trump declared more national emergencies than any other modern U.S. president, according to calculations by Axios.
Trump has already declared eight emergencies, using them to impose tariffs, accelerate the extraction of energy resources and minerals, and deploy U.S. troops to the Mexican border to curb migration.
Under the 1976 National Emergencies Act, the U.S. president has the authority to declare a national emergency at any time and for almost any reason—without having to prove a specific threat or obtain Congressional approval.
In 1983, the U.S. Supreme Court effectively removed Congress’s ability to veto such declarations.
As Axios notes, Trump’s extensive use of emergency powers is unprecedented in American history and points to a broader intention to consolidate power in the White House.
