President Trump said Monday he'd rather work with Congress to fund a border wall, even though he believes he has the legal option of funding it on his own by declaring a national emergency.

He made his comment in response to House Armed Services Committee Chairman, Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., who indicated that Trump does have some authority to take emergency action in the name of national security. Smith made his remark Sunday, but Trump appeared to be responding to it when Fox News replayed it early Monday.

“Congressman Adam Smith, the new Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, just stated, 'Yes, there is a provision in law that says a president can declare an emergency. It’s been done a number of times.' No doubt, but let’s get our deal done in Congress!” Trump tweeted Monday morning.

[Read more: Senate Democrats from shutdown central call for 'block' of all bills that don't open government]



Congressman Adam Smith, the new Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, just stated, “Yes, there is a provision in law that says a president can declare an emergency. It’s been done a number of times.” No doubt, but let’s get our deal done in Congress! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 7, 2019



Over the weekend, Trump said he was considering declaring a national emergency in order to obtain military funding to build a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border.

The partial government shutdown has now entered its third week, after a spending bill funding nine agencies could not be passed the Friday before Christmas. Democrats and Trump are at an impasse over border wall funding, which Trump says is needed to boost national security.