Biden predicts Manchin, despite complaints, will support his domestic agenda

President Joe Biden on Tuesday predicted Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin, despite complaints, will support his domestic agenda.

President Joe Biden's spent his last hours on his overseas trip with a news conference to tout U.S. climate policies and close out what he called "significant progress" made at the COP26 summit -- but he was also forced to respond to Democratic infighting over his climate change policies at home.

"Mister President, you're touting on this visit the $1.7 trillion plan that includes climate but your party is still not united behind it," a reporter said, raising progressives battling with Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., over the social spending package Democrats seek to pass through reconciliation -- which would need every Democratic Senate vote. "Today, he said he never signed off on the framework. So, do you have a specific commitment from Senator Manchin to support your Build Back Better bill -- yes or no -- and how do you respond to those criticisms?"

"Number one, I'm not going to talk about the specifics of my conversations," Biden replied. "He will vote for -- in this proposal what he has anticipated and that is looking at the fine print and the detail of what comes out of the house in terms of the actual legislative initiative. I believe that Joe will be there."

Although there's no definite sign a vote on the already Senate-passed bipartisan infrastructure bill will pass the House soon, progressives say they trust Biden to deliver 51 Senate votes he promised on the larger social spending bill, and the president offered an optimistic outlook, despite Manchin's new concerns that it would cost a lot more than claimed.