Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) said he tried to make a deal with President Donald Trump, but because they could not reach an agreement that he would be voting against the president's national declaration of emergency at the border.

"We tried to cut a deal, the president didn't appear interested," Lee told The Hill on Wednesday.

"I'll be voting 'yes,'" he added.

Lee spearheaded a bill that would limit the national emergency power of the Executive branch, but the bill would leave Trump's border declaration in place. So far, 14 other Republicans support the bill in the Senate.

However, the bill would need Trump's signature to become law, and Lee ostensibly hoped to exchange his support for the border declaration for Trump's promise to approve the bill limiting his powers.

Trump refused and Lee has revolted.

Lee joins four other Republicans who have already declared their opposition to Trump's border declaration: Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Rand Paul of Kentucky, and Thom Tillis of North Carolina.

The "Assuring that Robust, Thorough, and Informed Congressional Leadership is Exercised Over National Emergencies Act" would have ended any president's declarations of national emergency after 30 days unless Congress voted to extend them.

The president declared the national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border in order to circumvent Congress and begin construction on the border wall that he so often promised since the 2016 presidential campaign.

Here's the latest on the vote against Trump's border declaration:

Some Senate Republicans are expected to vote to stop Trump's emergency declaration www.youtube.com



