President Donald Trump urged Ohio Republican Vivek Ramaswamy on Thursday to keep using an ad featuring rival Amy Acton’s estranged mother, escalating criticism of the campaign’s use of her family history.
Trump praised the video as “so good” in a Truth Social post and accused news outlets of coordinating against Ramaswamy, AFP reported. Asked about the ad later, Trump said Acton was “fair game” and that he knew nothing about abuse allegations. He added that if her mother’s account was “half right,” Acton should not run for governor.
The video features Donna Arthur, Acton’s mother, accusing her daughter of lying throughout her life. Acton said in an Oct. 20 statement that she and her brother had experienced abuse, hunger and neglect as children. She said she had not seen Arthur since 1978, AFP reported.
Acton’s brother, Phil Stearns, criticized making Acton’s childhood a campaign talking point in a response video released by her campaign. “She was 11 and 12 years old,” Stearns said. Democrats and some Republicans have also criticized the ad.
AFP reported that Arthur’s husband faced a rape charge involving Acton’s childhood, left before the case reached trial and later died.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said the ad was wrong and should be taken down. DeWine had endorsed Ramaswamy as his successor. Trump called DeWine a “RINO” (“Republican in Name Only”) in his post.
Vice President J.D. Vance defended Ramaswamy while campaigning in Ohio. Earlier, Vance had urged Republicans to focus on winning the Ohio race amid the criticism, EconoTimes reported. Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur who ran against Trump in the 2024 Republican presidential primaries, is challenging Acton, a physician and former state health department director. Ohio’s gubernatorial election is Nov. 3, alongside the U.S. midterm elections.
