Former President Donald Trump has made a strong endorsement for a contentious political ad featuring Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. In the ad, Ramaswamy showcases the mother of his opponent in Ohio’s gubernatorial race, accusing her daughter, Amy Acton, of dishonesty and urging voters not to support her.
Acton, who is the Democratic candidate, condemned Ramaswamy for including her mother in the advertisement, particularly given her own traumatic past involving sexual abuse by her mother’s partner during her childhood.
While several Republicans have criticized Ramaswamy and called for the ad to be removed, Trump is not among them. He posted on social media about the ad, stating, “Vivek Ramaswamy has created a very impactful ad about a mother claiming that her daughter, Amy Acton, who is vying for Governor of Ohio, is a liar, and much worse.” He pointed out that the media is orchestrating a campaign to urge Ramaswamy to take the ad down and remarked, “Usually, if a mother speaks like this about her child, it would be expected that the child wouldn’t be able to hold office, especially the Governor’s position,” asserting that he fully supports Ramaswamy in keeping the ad up.
Trump remarked, “I only wish the mothers of my opponents would display such bravery to come forward and state that their child is a liar, and worse. That took a lot of courage to do, but essentially, she was saving Ohio from making a terrible choice! The media is trying to convince everyone that this ad is negative because it’s actually quite effective!”
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican, openly criticized the ad, saying, “The ad, at its core, is extremely troubling. And when you know the backstory—like the fact that the husband of the mother was indicted after a grand jury hearing, and subsequently went on the run with her—it really deepens the severity of the situation. So, I think it’s inappropriate to run this ad, and I would urge the Ramaswamy campaign to remove it.”
In contrast, Vice President JD Vance defended Ramaswamy, expressing his disgust towards the Republicans who have critiqued him.
Acton’s traumatic history dates back to when she was just 12, as she reported her stepfather for allegedly abusing her over a span of time from December 1976 to April 1978. Her stepfather, Cledith Arthur, pleaded not guilty but later skipped court and became a fugitive until his death in 2004.
The ad was initially highlighted by The Rooster political blog, and the Ramaswamy campaign has since claimed responsibility for it, announcing plans to invest $4 million into promoting the ad.
