President Trump on Thursday again defended Vivek Ramaswamy’s controversial campaign ad against Ohio Democratic gubernatorial nominee Amy Acton, questioning why anyone would try to shield voters from the personal attack.
“Why would you shield somebody from that?” Trump asked a rally crowd in Sioux City, Iowa. The ad features Acton’s estranged mother calling her a “liar.”
Trump said Ramaswamy had reached out for advice on whether to keep the spot running after it drew criticism from both parties, including from Ohio’s Republican governor, Mike DeWine.
“I said, ‘Let’s say that my mother said bad about me. ‘Donald Trump is a liar. He’s a horrible person and a liar,’ and my opponent put it up. Tim, what are the chances that the news would demand that it be removed?” Trump said, apparently addressing Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), who chairs the Senate GOP’s campaign arm. “He says zero.”
“The mother is calling the daughter a terrible person and a liar. Everybody should be so lucky. Why would you shield somebody from that?” Trump added. “Why would we do that? So I told him, ‘Leave it up, and look upstairs and say ‘Thank you, God, very much. I appreciate it.’”
Earlier Thursday, Trump had voiced support for the ad on Truth Social, encouraging Ramaswamy to “keep it up.” The president’s comments came as he campaigned in Iowa for Republican candidates, including Senate hopeful Ashley Hinson and gubernatorial nominee Zahn Lahn, with midterms less than two weeks away.
The ad, which began airing this week, features Acton’s mother, Donna Arthur, urging voters not to support her daughter. Acton and Arthur have been estranged for decades after Acton alleged that her stepfather abused her; he was later indicted by a grand jury. Acton’s brother, Phil Stearns, said Arthur lost custody of them and remained married to the stepfather until his death.
Stearns condemned the ad as a “desperate, disgusting attack” that reveals Ramaswamy’s character. DeWine and former Gov. John Kasich (R) also called on Ramaswamy to pull it.
“The ad is deeply, deeply troubling,” DeWine said, noting the backstory makes it “more serious” and “more wrong.”
Ramaswamy’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The race between Ramaswamy and Acton is tight, with Decision Desk HQ giving Acton a 61% chance of winning next month.
The controversy has also highlighted divisions within the GOP, with Trump and fellow Ohio Republican J.D. Vance backing Ramaswamy while other state leaders have distanced themselves. Acton’s campaign has reported a fundraising surge in the wake of the backlash.
