Exclusive: Leading House Republican communications policy under a president like Donald Trump, who is known for frequently expressing his views in public, will likely not be an easy task.
But Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), the new chair of the House Republican Conference, argues that an outspoken commander-in-chief has made her job easier. Part of the reason is his simple but ubiquitous catchphrase.
“If you look at the last election cycle, Republicans had a winning message, and it was simple and consistent and easy to replicate, right?” McClain said. “So, 'Make America Great.' Make America 'Blank' Again, Make America Strong Again,” it was simple and concise. [moderate or heavily Republican] district. “
“Not everyone is trying to reinvent the wheel. We all have a playbook that we can sing to, so to speak.”
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Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) is the new House Republican leader. (Tom Williams)
McClain, currently the fourth-ranking Republican in the House, has been in senior leadership for just over three weeks and has largely avoided the solo stage that role entails in favor of shining a spotlight on the party's lesser-known members. Ta.
She has co-authored op-eds with rank-and-file members and facilitated interview opportunities on issues affecting their home states. McClain told Fox News Digital that he sees his job as enhancing the existing qualities of council members that will help them win elections.
“People want to help. They want to be involved. They want to feel like they're part of something. And my job as chair of the conference is to help give them a platform. I think it can be done,” she said.
Like Trump, she made a living in business before entering politics. Before being elected to Congress in 2020, McClain ran a 700-person financial planning firm in his home state of Michigan.
When asked why he decided to run, McClain joked, “It's because of my daughter.”
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Rep. Lisa McClain said President Donald Trump's messaging style made her job easier. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
“So we have dinner on Sunday and that's like court time for me,” she recalled. “I was sitting on my soapbox thinking about something, and my daughter Ryan looked at me and said… 'You can be part of the problem, or you can be part of the solution. ” She had this cheeky attitude, “Why don't you run for Congress and do something?'' So the seed was planted. ”
But since being elected, McClain said he has taken at least one lesson from the business world. It's a human relationship.
“We are stronger when we come together as a team, and the more people we have on our team, the stronger we are,” she said.
Just this week, she and a team of House Republican leaders met with President Trump to discuss his agenda.
But those relationships extend beyond her fellow legislators.
Representative Lisa McClain will now regularly attend weekly House Republican leadership press conferences with Speaker Mike Johnson (center), Majority Leader Steve Scalise, and Majority Leader Tom Emmer (right). It will be. (Getty Images)
Her predecessor, Rep. Elise Stefanik (RN.Y.), was lavish in praise during interviews, but McClain is known for operating in tight circles, with the media barely at arm's length. It was there.
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But McClain is known for his openness with journalists, including through informal chats on Capitol Hill and occasionally sparring with members of the media on more difficult issues.
“You want to tell a story, and I want to tell a story. So if we work together, as long as we're fair and respectful to each other, we can build on what the story is about.” I think we can help shape the story.' That's what we're trying to tell,'' McClain said. “Because at the end of the day, what is the story that we're trying to tell, if I don't share the story with you, you're going to come up with your own story. So why do I Does it make sense to work together to share that story? ”
