President Donald Trump called Ohio Republican Representative Max Miller on Monday to raise concerns about his reelection campaign following serious domestic abuse allegations made by his ex-wife, Emily Moreno. Despite calls for his resignation from his former father-in-law, Senator Bernie Moreno, Miller maintains he will stay in the race for Ohio’s 7th Congressional District.
The Oval Office Phone Call and White House Reaction
President Trump reached out to Rep. Max Miller on Monday to discuss the growing controversy surrounding his reelection bid. The phone call came after Emily Moreno, daughter of Ohio Republican Senator Bernie Moreno, accused the congressman of severe physical abuse during their marriage and ongoing divorce proceedings.
When initially questioned about the situation, President Trump defended his former campaign aide.
“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.”
President Donald Trump, via Roll Call
While Trump expressed personal support, sources directly familiar with the call confirmed that the president nevertheless raised direct concerns regarding the state of the campaign as the allegations continued to dominate political headlines.
Severe Allegations in a High-Profile Custody Dispute
The public controversy stems from a bitter divorce and custody battle between Miller and Emily Moreno, who were married from 2022 until 2025. Court filings and police reports detail disturbing accusations, including claims that Miller threw his ex-wife against a wall during a February custody exchange, resulting in a clavicle fracture and a handprint-shaped bruise on their two-year-old daughter.
Additional court papers allege that Miller threw hot water at her in 2024 and pointed a firearm at her head last year. Emily Moreno also recently asked a court to issue a restraining order blocking Miller from contacting her lawyer, citing repeated verbal and physical altercations.
Max Miller Defends His Campaign and Denies All Charges
Miller has strenuously denied all accusations, maintaining that his ex-wife is attempting to influence their ongoing child custody battle through defamation.
“If I dropped out of this race, it would mean we as a nation have fallen so far from our American values. I will not validate false claims by removing myself just to please the court of public opinion. I am innocent of all of the allegations that have been attributed to me. I have done well representing my constituents’ interests. Why would I drop out?”
Rep. Max Miller, via CBS News
Miller pointed to an April letter from county investigators who closed an inquiry into the alleged February child abuse incident, noting that authorities categorized the allegation as unsubstantiated.
He told the president during their call that internal campaign polling places his reelection effort in a strong position, though CBS News has not independently verified those poll numbers.
A Senator’s Public Break and Sharp Congressional Reactions
The political pressure on Miller intensified significantly when his former father-in-law broke his silence. Senator Bernie Moreno posted a blunt condemnation on X, stating that the past two years had been pure hell
for his family and arguing that Miller poses an ongoing danger.
“If there are any basic standards of character required to hold elected office, Max Miller fails them. He should not serve in the House of Representatives.”
Sen. Bernie Moreno, via CBS News
The senator added that Miller needs serious psychological help
and noted he had hoped to keep the distressing family matters private before erratic behavior made silence impossible.
Across Capitol Hill, reactions remained sharply divided along political lines. While the Democratic Women’s Caucus called for an immediate House Ethics Committee investigation, House Republican leadership has largely avoided swift disciplinary steps. Meanwhile, Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., chair of the GOP Women’s Caucus, told reporters that while the allegations are deeply troubling, a personal dispute of this nature may not fall under the proper purview of the ethics panel.
Electoral Stakes in Ohio’s 7th District
The congressman is scheduled to face Democratic nominee Brian Poindexter in November in a district that Trump carried comfortably in previous election cycles.
