Trump Furious After GOP To Lose One More House Member

Domestic abuse allegations against Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) are creating a political headache for President Trump and Republicans as they work to protect their House majority ahead of the November midterm elections.

Trump spoke with Miller by phone on Monday, telling the Ohio congressman his reelection campaign faced serious challenges. Earlier in the day, the president described Miller as “a good person” but called the allegations “a very sad thing.”

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Miller said Trump was supportive but acknowledged the president believed his path to reelection had become much more difficult.

Speaking later with CNN’s Jake Tapper, Miller said Trump warned him the race would be tough, but he responded by comparing his own situation to Trump’s 2016 campaign.

“He said, ‘Max, it’s going to be a tough race,’” Miller recalled. “I reminded him of the same resilience that he had when people said he wouldn’t win in 2016.”

However, a source familiar with the conversation said Trump actually urged Miller to withdraw from the race.

Pressure has also intensified from within the Republican Party. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) said Miller should no longer serve in Congress, while Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) publicly called for his resignation. Those comments followed similar demands from Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), whose son was previously married to Miller.

The allegations, which Miller has repeatedly denied, have raised concerns among Republicans that a seat once considered relatively secure could become competitive.

Under Ohio election law, Miller would need to resign or end his campaign by Aug. 10 for Republicans to nominate a replacement candidate.

One Ohio Republican strategist said keeping Miller on the ballot could put an otherwise safe seat at risk and potentially affect the party’s chances of holding its House majority.

“It would be great if for one moment Max Miller cared about someone other than himself,” the strategist said.

Another Republican strategist noted there has been no organized effort to recruit a replacement candidate.

Democratic challenger Brian Poindexter referenced the allegations in a social media post, arguing that anyone facing such accusations should not hold public office.

House Majority PAC communications director CJ Warnke also suggested Democrats are prepared to aggressively target the race.

Despite the controversy, Democrats would still face a difficult path in the district. Miller won reelection by 15 percentage points in 2024, while Trump carried the district by 11 points. Democrats are also defending several competitive House seats elsewhere in Ohio.

Political analysts have nevertheless adjusted the race’s outlook. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report shifted the district from “Solid Republican” to “Likely Republican,” while the University of Virginia Center for Politics moved it from “Likely Republican” to “Lean Republican.”

Ohio Republican strategist Mehek Cooke argued the focus should remain on serving voters rather than ongoing controversy.

“This is no longer about one person,” Cooke said. “It’s about ensuring the focus remains on delivering for Ohio families rather than defending constant controversy.”

Some observers have compared Miller’s situation to former Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, who suspended his campaign after facing sexual assault allegations. Like that case, Miller’s legal and political troubles have forced Republicans to respond publicly, diverting attention from broader campaign issues.

Unlike the Maine race, however, Republicans note that any replacement nominee in Ohio would face a non-incumbent Democrat rather than an established officeholder.

Miller has shown no indication that he intends to step aside. He has consistently denied all allegations and filed a defamation lawsuit against his ex-wife in May.

On Tuesday, Miller announced he would request a House ethics investigation into his own conduct, saying he wants to clear his name from what he called “horrific attacks” against himself and his family.

In a nearly 20-minute livestream released Sunday, Miller disputed several of the accusations, including claims that he threw scalding water on his ex-wife.

“Ask yourself, if I had assaulted her, would she have offered to cook me dinner six days later?” Miller said.

A source close to the White House criticized the livestream, calling it a major political mistake.

“If that moron didn’t do that livestream, you and I wouldn’t be talking about this right now,” the source said.

Trump has maintained close relationships with both Miller and Sen. Bernie Moreno. The president attended and spoke at Miller’s 2022 wedding to Emily Moreno and endorsed Miller during his first congressional campaign.

Former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham, who previously dated Miller, has also alleged she informed Trump and former first lady Melania Trump about what she described as an abusive relationship after their breakup during Trump’s first administration. Grisham’s attorney announced this week that she has filed for a temporary restraining order against Miller.

Cooke argued the controversy is unlikely to have a lasting impact on Trump himself, saying the president’s agenda extends far beyond any individual congressional candidate.

“Every election cycle has candidate-specific issues because that’s politics and that’s life,” Cooke said. “There are many qualified Republicans in Ohio who can step up, serve the people, and advance that agenda without becoming a distraction.”