The West Virginia Democrat sat on the Republicans’ side of the chamber and was seen alongside GOP lawmakers Mitt Romney, Roger Wicker and John Barrasso during the speech.
Manchin was responsible for blocking Biden’s Build Back Better domestic spending plan—something Biden hoped to change with his address, according to a report in The Atlantic.
At the start of February, Manchin told reporters the president’s plan was dead, adding that he had not discussed the legislation since December.
He said: “What Build Back Better bill? I don’t know what you guys are talking about. It’s dead.”
Although Biden did not mention his Build Back Better plan by name, he did talk about the importance of deficit reduction during the State of the Union.
“Economists call it ‘increasing the productive capacity of our economy,’ I call it building a better America, the president said. “My plan to fight inflation will lower your costs and lower the deficit.
“[Seventeen] Nobel laureates in economics say my plan will ease long-term inflationary pressure. Top business leaders and most Americans support my plan.”
Sam Runyon, Manchin’s communications director, issued a statement to Newsweek as to why Manchin was sat with Republicans.
“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,” Runyon told Newsweek.
The president’s address highlighted three key areas for cost reductions: prescription drugs, energy and child care.
“First, cut the cost of prescription drugs. Just look at insulin. One in 10 Americans has diabetes,” Biden said.
He discussed a father and teenage son he had met who both had Type 1 diabetes, saying: “Imagine what it’s like to look at your child who needs insulin and have no idea how you’re going to pay for it.
“For the 200,000 other young people with Type 1 diabetes, let’s cap the cost of insulin at $35 a month so everyone can afford it.”
Moving on to energy, the president called for more investment in weatherizing American homes.
“Second, [let’s] cut energy costs for families an average of $500 a year by combating climate change.
“Let’s provide investments and tax credits to weatherize your homes and businesses to be energy efficient and you get a tax credit. Double America’s clean energy production in solar, wind, and so much more.”
On child care, he said: “Many families pay up to $14,000 a year for child care per child. Middle-class and working families shouldn’t have to pay more than 7 percent of their income for the care of young children.
“My plan will cut the cost in half for most families and help parents.”
Update 03/02/22, 8:30 a.m. ET: This article was updated to include comment from Manchin’s communications director Sam Runyon.
