Yes, he's played this out to this ending.
Interestingly, according to the Politico article, apparently DOD has plenty of appropriated money that can be redirected to “respond to requests by local law enforcement agencies.” So, for example, if Texas and Arizona requested DOD to build a wall, the President could apparently direct that those funds, already appropriated, toward wall construction.
The shutdown and wall debate are inflicting great damage on the Democrat Party. If nothing out Pelosi and Schumer have revealed themselves to be out-of-touch geriatrics. Trump may as well maximize the damage before he pulls the trigger on an emergency.
The delay is a win for the democrats.
To stop the ongoing invasion the Mexican border with California should be closed. When Mexico decides they have a problem and significantly takes steps to resolve that problem there can be progress.
I’ll reserve judgement on the east Texas border because I don’t think the problem is as bad there as in all of California.....It might be
Texas AG must put some pain in the process. Arrest all parents with children present in Texas federal detention facilities and charge them with child abuse and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Those with children sick or dying the charge is felony child abuse. Then, under the law take the children away from the offending parents and place in the care of the child welfare offices. The illegal parents and children are in Texas and subject to Texas law