On Tuesday, a visibly annoyed Sen. Joe Manchin, DW.Va., emphatically told MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell that he is “not going to talk” about whether he plans to support President Joe Biden if he runs for re-election. During the latest episode of MSNBC’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports,” Manchin spoke to the host about the deflationary law he and the Democratic Party passed to secure government funding for energy and the economy. He specifically focused on the bipartisan nature of what he referred to as “America’s red, white and blue bill.” Focusing on bipartisanship, Manchin flatly refused to answer Mitchell’s follow-up questions about whether he would support Joe Biden’s 2024 re-election campaign. Shaken by the question, Manchin repeatedly exclaimed, “I’m not going to talk about it! ,” before Mitchell dropped the question. Before the tense exchange, the MSNBC host referenced a conversation Manchin had Sunday with Meet the Press host Chuck Todd. Manchin was asked by Todd if he hoped Democrats would retain their majorities in Congress in the midterm elections. During an appearance Tuesday on MSNBC, Sen. Joe Manchin, DW.Va., declined to tell Andrea Mitchell whether he would support Biden’s re-election.
MANCHIN WILL NOT PLEDGE TO ENDORSE BIDEN IN 2024: ‘WE HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE’ At the time, Manchin declined to answer, claiming instead, “You know, I don’t make those choices or decisions about it.” Mitchell addressed Manchin, saying, “Let me ask you to expand on something you were talking about with Chuck Todd on ‘Meet the Press’ on Sunday, where you said — you didn’t say whether you’re going to support the Democrats in the midterms. I’m deciding based on individual candidates I think.” He then asked, “Would you support Joe Biden if he’s on the ticket in 2024 as the Democratic president seeking re-election?” As in his interview with Todd, Manchin dodged the question, preferring to tout the bill he helped pass. “Let me make it very, very clear. This is the most – one of the most important pieces of legislation in my lifetime that we’ve ever done, to have energy security, to fight inflation, to help our geopolitical allies around the world ” stated before Mitchell cut him off. “And you’ve worked with a Democratic White House on this,” he interjected. Manchin acknowledged this, but maintained that he would not answer her question because he does not want to “bring politics into it.” “But to bring politics to it, ‘oh, this is a Democrat bill, this is a Republican bill, this is not.’ I’m not talking about the 2022 and 2024 elections. I have no control over those election,” he argued. The senator added, “And I’m not going to talk about what’s going to distort one of the biggest pieces of legislation.” Sen. Joe Manchin, DW.Va., helped his party pass the De-Inflation Act last week. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
FINAL RETURN: ONLY 100 DAYS LEFT UNTIL THE MID-TERM ELECTIONS He praised Biden’s support of the bill, telling Mitchell, “and I’m very grateful that the president saw it, endorsed it, supported it. God bless him for it. It’s great for America. There’s nothing we can do for our country without having to bring politics into it? That’s all.” As Mitchell pressed one last time, trying to declare, “Well, you’re a Democratic senator,” Manchin animatedly cut her off. “I won’t discuss it!” he exclaimed three times. Sorrowfully, Mitchell replied: “I’m just asking if you would support your – your party leader.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Seemingly exasperated, the Democratic senator continued: “I support this bill, Andrea. It’s America’s bill. It’s America’s red, white and blue bill. It’s the bill we need to fight inflation, to have more energy to do the Job we were sent here to do. Anytime you talk about politics it provokes people. I’m not going to go down that road.” “I’m not thrilled, senator,” Mitchell replied, before expressing her gratitude that Manchin was able to help Democrats pass the deflationary bill. Inflation hit a record high of 9.1% in June. Supporters of the deflation law claim it will help ease economic pressures in the US (istock) Gabriel Hays is a contributing editor at Fox News. Follow him on Twitter at @gabrieljhays.