Allies of Donald Trump are pushing the president to encourage embattled Republican Rep. Max Miller to drop his reelection bid, according to four sources familiar with the matter, amid claims of domestic abuse from his ex-wife and pressure from his former father-in-law, Sen. Bernie Moreno.
As concerns have grown about Miller’s electability, some top House Republicans have phoned White House officials asking for help, one of the people told CNN. Those members specifically want Trump to ask for Miller to drop out before the deadline for him to appear on the ballot, that person said.
Trump has privately told some allies that he doesn’t believe Miller can win the race, given the accusations, and that he should drop out, one source familiar with the internal conversations told CNN.
Miller has insisted he will stay in his race. Over the weekend, Moreno said that his ex-son-in-law “should not serve” in Congress.
Some in Trump’s circle lamented on Monday that Moreno waited so long to directly condemn Miller, worrying it may now be too late to convince the president and GOP leaders to mount the full-court press necessary to push him out of the race.
