Former Senator Joe Manchin, Independent of West Virginia, has called on Americans to rally behind President Donald Trump, emphasizing that the success of the president is crucial for the nation, regardless of political affiliation. In an interview with Fox News’ One Nation, Manchin stressed the importance of bipartisan cooperation, particularly on issues like immigration and the opioid crisis, while criticizing the divisive rhetoric coming from some Democratic leaders.
“Americans—Democrats and Republicans—should be rooting for our president to succeed,” Manchin said. “Whether you voted for Donald Trump or not, whether you are a Democrat or Republican, it makes no difference. You want the leader of the free world to succeed. And if you’re a senator or congressperson, you’re in a position to help. You’re not going to agree on everything, but be respectful when you don’t agree and move forward.”
READ: Trade War Threat Escalates As Mexico And Canada Retaliate Against Trump’s Sweeping Tariffs
Manchin highlighted two areas where he believes Trump’s policies have garnered widespread public support: cracking down on illegal immigration and addressing the opioid epidemic, “The two things he’s done, which I think have tremendous support by the American public, are stopping this immigration scourge and addressing the drug crisis.”
The former senator pointed to the devastating impact of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid responsible for tens of thousands of deaths annually in the United States. “We’ve had more deaths from drug abuse and overdoses than all the wars put together,” Manchin said. “Now [Trump] is saying, ‘Okay, Mexico, China, you send precursors to Mexico, they make the fentanyl, and send it to America. We’re going to put a lot of hurting on you all with tariffs.’ That’s what the tariffs are for—to stop that, to protect Americans, to save American lives. I appreciate that. I support that approach.”
Manchin also commended Trump for designating Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations, a move he believes is critical to national security, and took aim at House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) for his combative rhetoric, particularly Jeffries’ vow to fight Trump’s policies “legislatively, in the courts, and in the streets.”
“That’s not the approach we need,” Manchin said. “We need to find common sense and work together. That’s what they should be talking about.” He also criticized blue-city mayors who have declared their cities sanctuaries for undocumented immigrants, arguing that their approach is out of touch with the concerns of most Americans.
READ: Federal LGBTQ Employee Groups Disband, Go Dark Following Trump’s Executive Orders
Manchin, a former Democrat, now an Independent, expressed strong support for Trump’s efforts to overhaul the immigration system.
“Having asylum at the border has never been done before this administration,” he said. “The Biden administration made a horrible mistake. You can’t have people coming in and saying, ‘Okay, come back and see me in a couple of years.’ We just don’t do this. Think about all the people who come the right way—through H-2B, H-1B visas, and other legal pathways. We want people to come the proper way.”
Manchin concluded by urging lawmakers and leaders to prioritize unity and common sense over partisan battles.
“We’ve got to purge all this out,” he said. “I support President Trump totally in eliminating this illegal scourge that we’ve had. A lot of the people who have come have done so for the wrong reasons and have harmed our country. Those three mayors I think are totally tone-deaf and are missing the boat because they’re not addressing the real concerns of the American people.”
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.