Vice President Pence said Thursday that the courts would likely get involved if President Trump Donald John TrumpHR McMaster says president's policy to withdraw troops from Afghanistan is 'unwise' Cast of 'Parks and Rec' reunite for virtual town hall to address Wisconsin voters Biden says Trump should step down over coronavirus response MORE declares a national emergency to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

“If it came to that, I suspect that the courts would be involved. But we would also be involved in explaining the nature of this crisis,” Pence said at a press briefing, while noting that Trump has not decided whether he'll declare the emergency.

“Our conviction is that Congress should do their job," he said.

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The government is in the 20th day of a partial shutdown, with Trump and congressional Democrats at odds over the president's demand for funding to build a wall along the southern border.

Trump has suggested he may declare a national emergency to construct the wall if lawmakers won't pass legislation for it, but Democrats say he would face a legal challenge if he follows through on his threat.

Earlier Thursday, Trump said it would be "surprising" to him if he doesn't end up declaring a national emergency.

“If this doesn't work out, probably I will do it," he said while speaking to reporters outside the White House. "I would almost say definitely."

He added that he has “the absolute right to declare a national emergency."