Another Texas Republican breaks with Trump over wall funding -- and gets applause for it at town hall
Composite image of troops putting razor wire on the border fence and President Donald Trump (screengrabs)

A Texas Congressman, U.S. Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX), said he opposes Trump’s “emergency” declaration for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, saying he fears the money might be swiped from essential military construction projects.


Williams, who represents Texas’ 25th congressional district, which includes parts of the Austin area, is the second notable Republican member of the House of Representatives from Texas to break with Trump on the issue (U.S. Rep. Will Hurd is the GOP Congressman from Texas most associated with being against Trump’s wall).

According to the Austin Statesman newspaper, Williams made his stance on the issue perfectly clear Tuesday at a town hall event after a question from a citizen regarding his take on funding for the wall.

“Do you support President Trump’s declaration of a border emergency?” Williams was asked in a question submitted by a citizen and read to the congressman by Bee Cave Mayor Monty Parker, who moderated the town hall.

“No,” Williams replied to applause from the audience of about 100, per the Statesman.

The Republican representative went on to explain why he was opposed to the ‘emergency’ declaration at the event.

“The reason that I have not been supportive of the declaration is because Congress has done a really poor job, we ... Congress, both sides of the aisle, put the president in this situation, OK, but I don’t support it from a selfish standpoint,” Williams said, further clarifying “that when we start drawing funds out of certain areas, one of which may be MILCON, construction of military bases, and we’ve got a lot of momentum going at Fort Hood right now.”

The Fort Hood military base is part of Williams’ Congressional district.

Watch video from the town hall below.