'Same Resilience': Max Miller says Trump likened his embattled campaign to 2016 White House run

WASHINGTON, DC: Rep Max Miller on Tuesday, August 4, said that President Donald Trump compared his embattled re-election bid to his own 2016 presidential run during a private phone call, as the Ohio Republican refuses to withdraw from the race while facing domestic abuse allegations from his former wife, Emily Moreno, the daughter of Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno.

Speaking on CNN's The Lead with Jake Tapper, Miller said Trump acknowledged the political challenges ahead but did not ask him to step aside. His remarks come as pressure rises after Senator Moreno also publicly called for his resignation. Miller has denied all allegations and has requested a House Ethics Committee investigation into his own conduct.

Miller says Trump praised his 'resilience'

Detailing his conversation with Trump, Miller said the president called him on Monday, August 3, and acknowledged the difficult political environment surrounding his re-election campaign. "Look, he called me, and he said, 'Maxie, it's going to be a tough race.' And he said, 'I don't know if you're going to be able to, you know, pull this one out,’” Miller said.

Miller indicated that the president continues to stand by him, stating, “And you know what, Jake? I reminded him of the same resilience that he had when people told him that he was going to struggle in 2016, and he became the 45th president of the United States."

Miller said Trump never instructed him to withdraw from the race despite speculation that Republicans were concerned about the Ohio seat. "People have asked me, what are you going to do? Are you going to drop out of this race? Are you going to resign?... And my answer to you, Jake, is no."

He added that he remained confident in his electoral prospects. "I have the utmost confidence that my constituents back home know me. This race is a home race. This isn't about what the national media thinks." Miller said Trump's political experience gave him hope to continue the race despite controversy. "He stayed in, and he was resilient," Miller said of Trump's 2016 campaign.

Miller requests ethics probe as allegations intensify

Miller also announced on Tuesday that he was asking the House Ethics Committee to investigate him, an unusual move for a sitting member of Congress. "I have absolutely nothing to hide," Miller wrote in a post on X.

"We will be providing the committee all necessary documents needed for a detailed examination. The accusations continue to change, but my facts stay the same. I am looking forward to my colleagues reading everything for themselves."

Later in the day, the House Ethics Committee confirmed it would investigate the allegations against Miller, including the domestic abuse claims as well as allegations concerning the possible use of illegal psychedelic substances.

The controversy has intensified ahead of Ohio's candidate replacement deadline, with reports suggesting some Republicans have privately expressed concerns about the impact of Miller's candidacy. Miller has been accused of domestic violence and threatening his ex-wife with a firearm.