Trump’s “Resilience” Playbook: How Scandal-Plagued Republicans Lean on the Former President

Representative Max Miller (R-Ohio) faces domestic-violence accusations, including claims by his ex-wife—Senator Bernie Moreno’s daughter—that he brandished a gun, threw scalding water and caused a broken collarbone in their two-year-old daughter. Despite a deadline that would have allowed Ohio Republicans to replace him on the November ballot, Miller announced he will stay in the race, self-funding his campaign with $1 million and requesting a personal ethics probe to clear his name.

Slate

Miller’s stance echoes a GOP trend of invoking Trump’s “resilience” narrative. In 2018, Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) claimed “politically motivated” Justice Department bias after a campaign-fund theft indictment and later received a pardon. In 2021, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) refused to resign amid a federal sex-trafficking probe, calling the investigation a “witch hunt.” Former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) repeatedly cited Trump’s “process” after fraud convictions. Each case shows Republican officeholders using Trump-derived rhetoric to deflect scrutiny.

The Bulwark

President Donald Trump said he would not intervene in Miller’s decision and expressed sympathy, “I feel badly for him.” House Speaker Mike Johnson called the allegations “serious” but stressed due process. Republican Senator Jon Husted urged Miller’s resignation; Rep. Jim Jordan defended him as “a good man.” The House Ethics Committee has opened an investigation that could lead to censure, reprimand or expulsion, with proceedings often extending beyond the November election.

Slate

Democratic Reps. Shontel Brown and Emilia Sykes have urged Miller to step aside. Local constituents echo the discontent:

Alternet

• Heather Tuck-Macalla, a Bay Village librarian, said, “He’s almost not human to me because I’ve never seen him around and he lives two blocks away from me.”

Alternet

• Retired Parma resident John Blockinger added, “I can’t believe that they haven’t just kicked his butt out of there.”

Alternet

• “He’s almost not human to me because I’ve never seen him around and he lives two blocks away from me,” — Heather Tuck-Macalla, librarian

Alternet

• “I can’t believe that they haven’t just kicked his butt out of there,” — John Blockinger, retired Parma resident

Alternet

• “There’s really no limit, the committee can investigate pretty much anything that would be relevant to either somebody’s serving in the House, or there’s a very broad view of anything that could bring disrepute onto Congress, onto the House,” — Cassandra Burke Robertson, law professor, Center for Professional Ethics, Case Western Reserve University

Alternet

The Ethics Committee will review documents, may hold hearings, and will issue a recommendation ranging from no action to expulsion. Miller’s refusal to withdraw has turned Ohio’s 7th District into a potential Democratic pickup, with challenger Brian Poindexter trailing in recent polls despite the district’s GOP history. The outcome will test whether the “Trump resilience” playbook can sustain a candidate under multiple, serious abuse allegations.

Slate