Trump reportedly called Rep. Max Miller amid abuse claims from his ex-wife, told him, ‘things aren’t looking good’

President Donald Trump called Rep. Max Miller (R-OH) and raised doubts about whether the congressman can win reelection in November, according to a report from Axios. The call comes as Miller faces abuse allegations from his ex-wife, Emily Moreno.

Emily Moreno is the daughter of Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH). She has reportedly accused Miller of pointing a gun at her head, throwing scalding hot water at her, pushing her into a wall, and fracturing their daughter’s collarbone. Miller denies all of these accusations, reports Mediaite.

Axios reporters Alex Isenstadt and Marc Caputo said Trump told Miller that his reelection bid is at risk. The reporters said the president told Miller, “things aren’t looking good.” Trump reportedly repeated multiple times that it would be difficult for Miller to win reelection.

Sen. Bernie Moreno called on Miller to end his reelection campaign

Sen. Moreno spoke out publicly on Sunday, days before the reported phone call. He said Miller should drop out of the race for Ohio’s seventh congressional district. “As he has admitted privately, Max Miller needs serious psychological help,” Moreno said in a statement on X. “He is a danger to my daughter, and I hold my breath every minute he has custody of my granddaughter.”

Trump reportedly addressed the situation while speaking with reporters in the Oval Office on Monday, where he is said to have described Miller in positive terms and said he would leave the matter to the families involved. 

“It’s a very sad thing. I know Max, he’s a good person, I mean, I always thought he was a very good person,” Trump said. “And I’m going to let the families figure that out. His family, I know they’re working on it. It’s a very sad thing.” Trump has previously turned on Republicans he once supported, including when he pushed for Bill Cassidy’s primary defeat after the senator broke with him.

Miller responded to the allegations in a video statement posted on X on Sunday. He denied abusing his ex-wife and said she has faced serious mental health struggles. “I categorically deny abusing my former wife,” Miller said, adding that she had “significant mental health challenges.”

Trump’s relationships with members of his own party have shifted before, including his falling out with Marjorie Taylor Greene after she broke with him over the Iran war. Miller’s opponent in the general election is Democratic candidate Brian Poindexter, a union worker running for the same House seat in Ohio’s seventh district.