Trump backs Ramaswamy ad featuring Acton’s estranged mother

President Donald Trump defended a campaign ad featuring the estranged mother of Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton on Thursday, breaking with the state’s Republican governor, who urged GOP nominee Vivek Ramaswamy to take it down.

The ad features Donna Arthur calling her daughter a “liar” and questioning her credibility. Acton’s campaign condemned it, and her brother, Philip Stearns, called it a “despicable low.” The ad first circulated on social media Monday and is now airing on television, CBS News reported.

Arthur and Acton have been estranged since Acton was a child. According to court documents provided by Acton’s campaign and described by CBS News, Arthur’s husband was charged with raping Acton, who said the abuse occurred when she was between 10 and 12 years old. He pleaded not guilty and left the area while out on bond; the case never went to trial. Stearns said their mother remained married to the man until his death. The Guardian reported that Arthur lost custody of her children in 1978, after her husband was charged.

Trump called the ad “very powerful” in a Truth Social post and said he had suggested Ramaswamy keep running it. “Who wouldn’t use such an Ad?” he wrote. “I would, it’s called, ‘hitting pay dirt.’” He argued that a mother speaking about her daughter that way would ordinarily prevent the daughter from holding office.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine disagreed. “It’s wrong to run this ad,” he told reporters Thursday. “I would urge Ramaswamy’s campaign to take this down.” DeWine did not withdraw his endorsement of Ramaswamy. Trump, in turn, accused the governor of disloyalty to the Republican Party.

Asked by reporters at the White House about the family history, Trump said, “Well I know nothing about it.” He said he knew Arthur had said “very bad things” about Acton and added that a comparable statement from his own mother would be a major news story. The Guardian reported that an ABC News reporter had told Trump on Wednesday that Acton suffered sexual abuse by her mother’s husband as a child.

In a further exchange Thursday, CNN correspondent Kaitlan Collins asked Trump why he had not mentioned the allegation against Acton’s stepfather. Trump said the press had “ganged up” on Arthur and accused reporters of trying to help Acton get elected. When Collins said Arthur had remained married to the man accused of abusing Acton, Trump again said he did not know the details. “All I know is Amy Acton’s mother said horrible things about Amy Acton,” he said. “And I say that she’s fair game.”

Vice President JD Vance also defended the ad, telling Republicans who criticized it to “stop whining.” Other Republicans distanced themselves from it. Ohio Sen. John Husted said he “would not have run that ad,” while South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace called it the “most shameful, disgusting, offensive ad this election season.”