EXCLUSIVE: Leading the communications policy of the Republican House of Representatives under a president like Donald Trumpwho is known for often voicing his thoughts on the public stage, is probably not an easy task.
But Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Mich., the incoming chairwoman of the House GOP conference, says the outspoken commander-in-chief makes her job easier — in part because of his simple but ubiquitous slogan.
“If you look at the last election cycle, the Republicans had a winning message, and it was simple, consistent and easy to repeat, right?” McClain said. “So, ‘Make America Great.’ Make America ’empty’ again. Make America energy independent [moderate or heavily Republican] county.”
“Not everyone is trying to reinvent the wheel. They have a playbook that everyone can sing from, so to speak.”
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Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Mich., is the new House No. 4 Republican leader (Tom Williams)
McClain, now #4 GOP House Leaderhe was in senior management for a little over three weeks. But she’s largely avoided the solo stage that comes with the role in favor of shining the spotlight on lesser-known members of the GOP.
She wrote op-eds with rank-and-file lawmakers and promoted interview opportunities on issues affecting their home states. McClain told Fox News Digital that she sees her job as elevating existing qualities that have helped conference members win elections.
“People want to help. They want to be engaged. They want to feel a part of something. And I think through my job as conference president, I can help give them a platform,” she said.
Like Trump, she earned her living in business before entering politics. Before being elected to Congress in the 2020 races, McClain ran a 700-person financial planning firm in her home state of Michigan.
When asked why she decided to run, McClain joked, “I blame it on my daughter.”
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McClain said President Trump’s messaging style makes her job easier. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
“We have Sunday dinner and that’s my time to hold court,” she recalled. “I was talking about something. My daughter Ryan looked at me… ‘You can either be part of the problem or part of the solution.’ She was sassy ‘Why don’t you run for Congress and do something about it?’ So that planted the seed.”
But since being elected, McClain said she has taken at least one lesson from the business world with her – relationships.
“Together we are stronger as a team. And the more people you have on the team, the better you are,” she said.
Just this week, she and a team of House GOP leaders sat down with Trump to discuss his plan.
However, these relationships extend beyond her fellow MPs.
McClain will now be a regular presence at the House GOP leadership’s weekly press conference, alongside Speaker Mike Johnson, Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Majority Whip Tom Emmer. (Getty Images)
Her predecessor, Representative Elise Stefanik, RN.Y. — who McClain praised during her interview — was known to work in a tight circle and mostly kept the media at bay.
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But McClain is known for her open demeanor with the press, both through informal conversations on Capitol Hill and occasionally debating more difficult topics with members of the media.
“You want to tell a story, and I want to tell a story. So if we work together, as long as we’re fair or respectful of each other, I think we can work together to shape that story based on the story we’re trying to tell,” McClain said. “Because at the end of the day, if I don’t share my story with you about the story we’re trying to tell, you’re going to come up with the story yourself. So why don’t we work together to share that story? Does it make sense.”
