McClain on Face the Nation: Midterm Strategy, Canada Tariffs and the Max Miller Controversy

On Sept. 6, 2026, Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), chair of the House Republican Conference, spoke with Margaret Brennan on Face the Nation from New Haven, Michigan. The interview covered Republican messaging ahead of the midterms, U.S.-Canada trade tensions and ethics questions surrounding Rep. Max Miller.

Midterm Convention and Messaging

Brennan began by asking whether centering the midterm message on former President Donald Trump — who she said had a 39% approval rating according to CBS polling — could help Democrats. McClain replied that she believes the Dallas midterm convention will energize and unify Republicans and emphasize accomplishments from the last two years in Congress.

"Trump is absolutely on the ballot," McClain said, but she framed the gathering as a chance to "compare and contrast" Republican priorities with Democratic alternatives and to remind voters of GOP achievements, including securing the border and passing sizable tax cuts. She said the event is intended to motivate the party's base.

Tariffs, Farmers and Trade With Canada

Brennan then raised concerns about the political cost of tariffs and higher input costs for rural voters. She cited a Charlie Cook warning about risks to Republicans in farm country. McClain said she has spoken with farmers in her district who, she claimed, generally support a tougher U.S. posture toward Canada to "level the playing field."

McClain described Canadian protections for certain dairy products as especially problematic, saying U.S. producers face steep restrictions she characterized as roughly a 250% barrier on some items since the 1990s. She also highlighted the current administration's trade agenda, saying it has enacted 20 trade deals versus three under the Obama administration, and reiterated Republican calls to reform the estate tax to help preserve family farms.

Brennan noted a National Taxpayers Union Foundation analysis estimating that tariffs have cost Michigan about $23 billion since January 2025 — roughly $5,619 per household — and that Canada was expected to enact retaliatory tariffs affecting aluminum, dairy, steel and appliances. McClain acknowledged short-term pain but argued the objective is a fair, reciprocal trading relationship rather than a prolonged trade war. She also repeated a claim that the U.S. runs a roughly $60 billion trade deficit with Canada.

House Ethics and the Max Miller Question

The conversation turned to party politics after Brennan asked about the NRCC’s decision to spend nearly $500,000 to support Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio), who has been accused of domestic abuse by two former partners. Speaker Mike Johnson has signaled support for Miller, while several Republican lawmakers have called for him to step aside.

McClain said she supports due process and generally supports Republican nominees. She described divorces and related allegations as "ugly," said she hopes the truth emerges, and emphasized that the party must remain focused on its policy priorities — lowering crime, securing the border and reducing government waste. She noted that Miller remains the party’s nominee and that internal avenues had already been pursued by some colleagues.

Technical Note: The on-air exchange briefly experienced a technical freeze; the broadcast handled the interruption before resuming.

Context and Attribution: This article attributes claims where they were presented as statements by Rep. McClain or cited sources (for example, CBS polling and the National Taxpayers Union Foundation analysis). Some policy figures referenced by McClain (such as the 250% characterization and the $60 billion trade deficit with Canada) are reported here as her statements and should be verified independently for precise tariff schedules and trade-balance calculations.