The key facts
- Trump called Ramaswamy's ad 'very good' and urged him to keep going
- Acton said she endured violence, hunger and neglect as a child
- DeWine, who supports Ramaswamy, called the ad wrong
Trump backs controversial ad
US President Donald Trump on Thursday backed Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy over an attack ad against his Democratic rival Amy Acton. The ad features Acton's mother, who remained married to a man whom, according to the candidate, she accused of raping her as a child. Trump called the ad 'so good' and said the media were conducting a coordinated attack to undermine the Republican's chances.
Trump's statements
'Vivek must keep going, and let everyone listen to the mother of the defective, dishonorable and incapable candidate explaining how the daughter — a DISASTER who lies, cheats and steals uncontrollably,' Trump wrote on Truth Social. The 80-year-old president added: 'If my mother, the legendary Mary MacLeod Trump, had said something bad about me, the fake news would have blown it up.' Later, he told journalists that Acton was 'fair game' and that he was unaware of the abuse allegations: 'I know nothing about it. If even half of what the mother says about her daughter is true, she has no right to run for governor of Ohio.'
The essence of the conflict
Ramaswamy, a billionaire and biotech entrepreneur who ran against Trump in the 2024 Republican primaries, is competing with Acton — a physician and former director of the state health department — in the Ohio gubernatorial election. In the ad, Acton's mother, Arthur, claims her daughter 'has lied her whole life.' Arthur's husband fled before trial on sexual abuse charges and is now dead. Acton, 60, said she has not seen Arthur since 1978.
Acton's reaction and criticism
On Tuesday, Acton issued a statement saying that she and her brother 'endured violence, hunger and neglect' as children. Her campaign also released a video with her brother Phil Sterns, who said: 'She was 11 and 12 years old, and to think this is somehow a topic for discussion. Shame on Vivek.' Democrats and some Republicans condemned the ad. Ohio's sitting Republican governor Mike DeWine, who supports Ramaswamy as his successor, called the ad 'wrong' and demanded it be pulled. Trump in response called DeWine a 'RINO' — a 'Republican in name only.'
Vance's support and election context
Vice President JD Vance defended his 'good friend' Ramaswamy on the campaign trail in Ohio, his home state, on Wednesday. Earlier this month in Ohio, Vance backed other attack ads accusing Acton of alcohol problems. The ad comes amid increasingly harsh rhetoric ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, when governors, senators, the entire House of Representatives and dozens of US senators will be elected.
