Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) said during an interview on Wednesday’s “Morning Joe” that West Virginia, unlike Texas, would welcome military training exercises that have led to widespread conspiracy theories in several western states.
“Let me just say this. I want to make news right now,” Manchin said. “I don’t know what’s going on in Texas. I don’t know the paranoia that goes on in Texas, but the people in West Virginia welcome, welcome the special forces exercises. Please come to West Virginia. We’ll welcome you with open arms. We’re not afraid of you. We embrace you, we want you to be part of us.”
Manchin’s comments came in response to a question from MSNBC’s Mika Brzezinski about Jade Helm 15, a military training program set to take place this summer in seven western states. The operation has generated a series of conspiracy theories that the program is a front for a covert U.S. government takeover of Texas.
Last week, concerns from conspiracy theorists prompted Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) to order the Texas State Guard to monitor the military exercises.
“I have no clue,” Manchin said, when asked by Brzezinski what was happening in Texas. “I’ll have to call my buddy Rick Perry and find out if he can get me the scoop on this.”
“We’ll let you do that,” Brzezinski said. “You let us know what you find out, Joe Manchin.”
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