Sen. Joe Manchin Joseph (Joe) ManchinManchin defends Supreme Court candidate Barrett: 'It's awful to bring in religion' The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Trump, GOP allies prepare for SCOTUS nomination this week Trump meets with potential Supreme Court pick Amy Coney Barrett at White House MORE (D-W.Va.) said on Thursday that he plans to stay with the Democratic Party.

"Absolutely,” he responded when he was asked on "Fox & Friends" whether he would stay in the party.

“Here’s the thing: That’s my identity, as a Democrat,” he said. “My brand is being very, very independent.”

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Manchin added that he is comfortable with supporting proposals from either party as long as they are good for his constituents.

“So the bottom line is, I’m just trying to work and make this place work,” he said. “My identity being a Democrat or your identity being a Republican should not interfere with us being an American. And I don’t know why people get all bent up on that.”

Manchin is a centrist who has sided with Republicans in the past. He met with President-elect Donald Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE earlier this week and said on Thursday that he was "honored" to be invited to Trump Tower.

"I want him to be successful," he said. "My job as a senator is to do everything that I can to help him."

There had been some speculation before Election Day that Manchin would switch parties in the event of a split Senate.