GOP billionaire Langone say will hold Manchin fundraiser, calls Democrat senator 'great American'

Republican billionaire Ken Langone says he'll hold a fundraiser for the 2024 reelection of Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin, whom he called a “great American and praised for his "guts and courage."

Langone, in making the announcement Wednesday on CNBC, didn't speak directly to Manchin's opposition to parts of President Biden's estimated $1.8 trillion Build Back Better spending bill.

However, Manchin, a moderate Democrat from West Virginia who holds a pivotal vote in the 50-50 Senate, has opposed certain parts of the social spending plan including clean energy provisions. 

Manchin has also opposed raising corporate taxes above 25% and a proposed tax that would target billionaires.

"I don’t see leadership [in] any place in this country," Langone said on CNBC’s "Squawk Box," "Thank God for Joe Manchin."

The social safety net and climate spending plan in existing forms would also expand Medicaid and Medicare, pay for universal pre-K and dedicate $550 billion to initiatives intended to fight climate change, according to CNBC. The House is expected to vote on the legislation this month. But the measure will likely change before the Senate takes up the bill.

"I'm going to have one of the biggest fundraisers I’ve ever had for him," Langone also said. "He’s special. He's precious. He's a great American."