Transcript: Rep. Lisa McClain on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” Sept. 6, 2026

Rep. Lisa McClain rejected the idea that President Trump's plan to center the midterm elections on himself could help Democrats. “Trump is absolutely on the ballot,” she told Margaret Brennan on CBS's “Face the Nation,” describing the planned Dallas gathering as an effort to unite Republicans and energize their base.

McClain said Republicans would use the midterm convention to promote what she called their record in Congress. She cited border security and tax cuts, saying the event would present voters with a choice between “one communist crazy” and “traditional American common-sense values.”

Brennan raised warnings from Charlie Cook of the Cook Political Report that Republicans should prepare for outcomes ranging from bad to “truly horrible.” She pointed to tariffs and rising fuel and fertilizer costs, including concerns voiced by North Dakota Senator Kevin Cramer about farm country.

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Trump is absolutely on the ballot.

McClain said rural voters in her Michigan district were responding positively to Trump. She said farmers applauded his effort to challenge Canada over tariffs, claiming Canada had imposed a 250% tariff on American milk, cream and poultry since the 1990s. She also credited the president with enacting 20 new trade deals, compared with three during Barack Obama's presidency.

She added that farmers supported Republican efforts involving the estate tax because they would help keep family farms within families and pass wealth to the next generation. The interview ended when Brennan said McClain's connection was freezing.

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one communist crazy versus traditional American common-sense values