One Democratic senator appears to enjoy photo opportunities with President Trump but is less interested in working with him on health care and other key issues that are core aspects of the president's agenda.
Sen. Joe Manchin (D., W.Va.) recently described how his relationship with Trump is better than it was with former President Obama. At times Manchin was the only Democrat standing during Trump's address to a joint session of Congress two weeks ago, which the senator praised afterward. The West Virginia senator also stood beside Trump last month as he signed a bill that rolled back new coal mining regulations. Manchin even praised Trump's executive action advancing construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline.
But their positive relationship only extends so far. Manchin appeared to come out against the House Republican plan to replace Obamacare, which Trump supports, during an interview Monday night with CNN's Don Lemon.
Lemon asked Manchin if he thinks the GOP bill, called the American Health Care Act, will pass the Senate.
"They [Republicans] are working everything on budget reconciliation, which is a 51-vote threshold. If they can hold 51 of their 52 Republican senators, I don't think they will get any Democrat help on this," Manchin said, implying that he will not back the bill.
While House Speaker Paul Ryan (R., Wis.) continues to push the bill through the House of Representatives, Trump has urged all members of Congress to support the plan.
"I'm proud to support the replacement plan released by the House of Representatives and encouraged by members of both parties," Trump said.
But the president has also warned what would happen if the bill fails–an electoral "bloodbath" if an Obamacare repeal and replace plan falls through.
Back in 2010, Manchin said he would vote for a full repeal of Obamacare if the law could not be fixed. He even released a campaign ad in which he pledged to repeal the bad parts of the health care law–before proceeding to shoot Obama's cap and trade energy bill.
Manchin said days before Trump was inaugurated that he would help Republicans "repair" Obamacare and try to bring fellow Democrats on board.
Aside from health care, Manchin opposed the president's original executive order limiting travel from seven Muslim-majority countries over terrorism concerns. He said the plan "defied common sense."
Manchin has not announced whether he will support Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Judge Neil Gorusch. He has publicly stated that he will not filibuster Gorusch and give him a chance in a Senate vote. Some Democrats have already pledged to oppose Gorusch's confirmation and try to filibuster a vote if necessary.
Manchin is in a unique position. He is a member of a Democratic Party that has vowed to oppose Trump at every turn while representing a state that overwhelmingly supported Trump in the presidential election. Trump won West Virginia by over 40 points in November.
Manchin is one of ten Democratic senators from states Trump won who are up for reelection in 2018.