McConnell says he would welcome Manchin to the GOP

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he would "certainly welcome" Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) to join the Republican Party "if he was so inclined."

Appearing Monday on the Guy Benson Show, McConnell said he had hoped Manchin would vote no on President Joe Biden's Build Back Better Act. Manchin announced Sunday that he would not support the legislation due to its high cost and climate provisions.

"Ironically, my wrap-up press conference at the end of the session last Thursday, I said the single greatest favor Joe Manchin could give the country is to kill this bill," McConnell told Guy Benson. "That's what the country needs, to see this bill killed. It is absolutely inappropriate and unnecessary at a time when we're fighting inflation."

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki harshly criticized Manchin over his decision to vote against Build Back Better. She called Manchin's "inexplicable reversal" on the bill "a breach of his commitments."

Manchin was also rebuked on Sunday by fellow lawmakers, including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), and Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.).

"I was shocked at the vitriol, and basically it seemed to me that they were calling Sen. Manchin a liar," McConnell told Benson. "I think that was not smart. This is a 50/50 Senate. It's going to be 50/50 for another year, and believe me, this is not how I would handle a disappointing vote like that."

Manchin "doesn't fit well over there, but that is a decision ultimately that he has to make," the Kentucky senator said, inviting Manchin to the GOP. "We certainly welcome him to join us if he was so inclined."