President Trump on Thursday would “almost say definitely” that he’ll declare a national emergency to build a wall on the southern border — a maneuver that would allow him to bypass Congress.

“If we don’t make a deal, I would say it would be very surprising to me that I would not declare a national emergency and just fund it through the various mechanisms,” he told reporters as he headed from the White House to Texas to visit the border.

“I have the absolute right to declare a national emergency,” he continued. “I haven’t done it yet. I may do it. If this doesn’t work out, probably I will do it. I would almost say definitely.”

“The only way you have a strong border is you have a wall or steel barrier,” he added.

His comments came as the partial government shutdown enters its 20th day and a day after a White House meeting intended to break the impasse between the administration and leading Democrats ended after 20 minutes when the president walked out.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Trump slammed his hands on the table and stormed out after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she wouldn’t support a wall in exchange for opening up parts of the government.

Trump denied that happened.

“That was a lie … I don’t have temper tantrums. I very calmly walked out of the room. I didn’t smash the table. I should have, but I did not smash the table,” he said.

Speaking of the negotiations with Schumer and Pelosi, Trump said he found that China is “far more honorable” than the Democratic leaders.

“I think that China is actually much easier to deal with than the opposition party,” he said, referring to talks his administration is having with China over trade.

Trump also defended his claim that Mexico would pay for the wall, which became a rallying cry during his campaign rallies.

“When I said Mexico will pay for the wall in front of thousands and thousands of people, obviously they’re not going to write a check, but they are paying for the wall indirectly many, many times over by the really great trade deal we just made,” Trump said.

But critics have pointed out that the deal his administration has reached with Mexico and Canada — known as USMCA — to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement has not been ratified by the Senate and doesn’t include language that would require Mexico to pay up.

At least one Republican who usually sides with Trump said the President should end the stalemate by declaring a national emergency.

“It is time for President Trump to use emergency powers to fund the construction of a border wall/barrier,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said in a statement. “I hope it works.”