Max Miller Continues to Resist Pressure to Drop Out as Deadline Looms
NYT > U.S. > Politics — 2026-08-07 18:19:00 — www.nytimes.com
Representative Max Miller, a Republican from Ohio facing serious allegations of physical abuse from his ex-wife and young daughter, has chosen to resist mounting pressure from party leaders to withdraw from his re-election campaign. According to the excerpt, Miller told President Trump in a phone call earlier this week that he intended to “do as the president had done amid his own scandals: fight through it.” Trump, for his part, urged Miller to consider his odds but stopped short of directly requesting that Miller withdraw from the race.
## Trump’s Approach: Fight Through Scandal
Miller’s decision to remain in the race, despite public calls for his resignation and the threat of losing a reliably Republican seat, appears to be influenced by Trump’s own approach to political crises. The excerpt reports that Miller explicitly referenced Trump’s strategy of weathering scandals rather than stepping aside, signaling that Trump’s posture has become a model for embattled allies within the party.
## Trump Stops Short of Calling for Withdrawal
While Trump advised Miller to weigh his chances, he did not join other Republican leaders in demanding Miller’s exit from the race. This stands in contrast to the actions of Ohio Senator Jon Husted and the head of the Center for Christian Virtue, both of whom publicly called for Miller to step aside. Trump’s reluctance to press for Miller’s withdrawal underscores his tendency to avoid direct intervention in the political fates of loyalists, even amid serious allegations.
## The Broader Impact
The excerpt highlights that Republican officials fear the accusations against Miller could jeopardize a safe seat in a critical election cycle. Despite these concerns, Trump’s response—counseling caution but not demanding action—reflects a pattern seen throughout his political career: encouraging embattled allies to fight on, rather than bow to public or party pressure.
## Conclusion
Miller’s invocation of Trump’s example demonstrates the lasting influence of Trump’s combative approach to scandal management within the Republican Party. By stopping short of calling for Miller’s withdrawal, Trump once again signals his preference for resilience over resignation, even as party leaders warn of the potential electoral costs. This episode serves as another example of how Trump’s personal political strategy continues to shape the actions and attitudes of Republican officeholders facing controversy.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/07/us/politics/max-miller-gop.html