Joe Manchin sits with Republicans during State of the Union

Sen. Joe Manchin, D‑W.Va., left, Sen. Roger Wicker, R‑Miss., right, and Sen. John Barrasso, R‑Wyo., listen as President Joe Biden delivers his first State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 1, 2022.

J. Scott Applewhite/AP

Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin opted to sit with Republican members during Tuesday’s State of the Union rather than his Democratic colleagues.
The West Virginia senator instead sat between GOP Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker and Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney, directly behind Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst.

As Biden gave his address, Manchin remained seated and refrained from clapping as others applauded the president for lauding items within his Build Back Better bill, including the expanded Child Tax Credit that expired in December, which Manchin opposed.
During parts of the address, Manchin was spotted leaning over to speak to Romney on several occasions.
BIDEN REFERS TO UKRAINIANS AS ‘IRANIAN PEOPLE’ IN STATE OF THE UNION GAFFE
Later on, Manchin was seen on the phone and did not stand as people applauded Biden’s Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson.

As President Joe Biden delivers his first State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol, Sen. Joe Manchin, stands and applauds while seated among Republican Senators and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene voices opposition pic.twitter.com/Azz7mzAtas— AFP News Agency (@AFP) March 2, 2022

Manchin, wearing a pin with Ukrainian colors, has a history of parting with his Democratic counterparts over policy differences.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Following the address, Romney told reporters he “asked” Manchin to sit with him. Manchin chimed in, we’re “showing unity, working together. Showing the whole world we’re together in standing behind Ukraine.”
“Senator Manchin sat with his colleague Senator Romney to remind the American people and the world that bipartisanship works and is alive and well in the U.S. Senate,” said Sam Runyon, communications director for the West Virginia Democrat.
When asked what he thought of Biden’s speech, Manchin said, “It was a good speech, sure.”
Emily Brooks contributed to this report.

…

The post Joe Manchin sits with Republicans during State of the Union appeared first on Populist Press ©2022.