Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin infuriated his party’s hard-left progressive base by refusing to outwardly call President Trump a liar. But, he made them even angrier when he told CNN’s Jim Sciutto a “realist and centrist” candidate needs to be nominated to challenge President Donald Trump in 2020.

The senator from West Virginia was adamant that his state won’t accept “extremes,” which prompted Sciutto to ask about Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.

“Elizabeth would have a hard time in West Virginia, she really would,” Manchin said. “But she’s welcome to come down. Maybe she can change her positions. These are all my friends. I’ve worked with everybody, from the right to the left, I’m able to work with everybody. But I want them to see the real world, to see real West Virginia, to see real rural America, to see people who really get up and work hard and don’t ask for anything: ‘just give me a chance to provide for my family.’”

Not only did Manchin fail to back the progressive darling, he also disappointed the Trump Derangement Syndrome crowd Tuesday during an appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” when co-host Willie Geist did everything he could to get the senator to say President Trump was “lying to justify this wall.”

With President Trump set to address the nation Tuesday night from the Oval Office, CNN and MSNBC are working hard to discredit the president beforehand.

Forgetting that his network has no credibility, Geist engaged in an exchange with the lawmaker about facts, which have the consistency of Jello in DC, before asking him if Trump is lying about the wall.

“But as you say it’s a fact and it’s not true,” Geist said. “So is he lying?”

Manchin represents a state that overwhelmingly voted for Trump in 2016, and he did his best two-step to dance around the question.

“If it’s a fact, it’s not true,” he said. “And if you’re not telling the truth, then you have to be lying, okay? But the bottom line is, if he believes it in his heart and soul, until he finds someone that verifies or validates what he’s saying. But we’ve got to work off the same set of facts. And the facts right now are not verifying what’s being said, and the president, what he’s calling, as far as the national emergency.”

Politics is an art and Manchin is well schooled in the craft.

Not that Democrats appear to appreciate his skill, as they unleashed on him on social media.

? @JoeManchinWV: https://t.co/4FjeuyTciX. Accepts extremists every election. They’re called Republicans. It’s time to stop being milquetoast and fight. Stand for something other than watered down Republicanism. — Paul Atreides (@TheBoogieKnight) January 8, 2019

@Sen_JoeManchin just needs to admit that he’s a Republican — KellyLangleyWestphal (@Allenswifee) January 8, 2019

Oh yes let’s put WV at the top of the 2020 Democratic ‘must-have’ column. Great idea, Joe! — Chad Corley (@lrbt) January 8, 2019

Change headline to Republican Joe Manchin — AT (@ATKIRF) January 8, 2019

Meet the U.S. Senate Number 1 #DINO Trump apologist!! And father whom gave cover to CEO Drug maker daughter to gouge #EpiPen users!! #Quit @Sen_JoeManchin >>>> @MSNBC !! — James B. Kane (@jamesbkane) January 8, 2019

I’m so done with @Sen_JoeManchin He’s not a Democrat. I don’t know what he is. — Jules (@IAmJulesWard) January 8, 2019

@JoeManchinWV. Wow words can’t express do justice regarding the contortionist act you just displayed. Are you supporting Trump declaring a fake emergency? You slander Warren and give Trump a pass faining his ignorance. .@JoeNBC — MiMiLou (@rualncfemale) January 8, 2019

With friends like Joe, oh wait he’s not a friend. — Jay Peterson (@Jpete008) January 8, 2019

Joe Manchin would have a hard time in most blue states… So what? — ~ tb ~ (@tgraph52) January 8, 2019

@JoeManchinWV and we all know exactly why. Sorry, but I don’t want to base my choice of President on who WVA would like. Why don’t you just try supporting your party for a change? — NotInKansasAnymore (@Frumpzilla) January 8, 2019