Trump encourages Ramaswamy to continue running disputed campaign advertisement

President Donald Trump defended Ohio Republican gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy on Thursday and urged him to keep running a campaign advertisement featuring the estranged mother of his Democratic opponent, Amy Acton. Politico White House and the Washington Examiner both reported that Trump called the advertisement powerful and urged Ramaswamy to keep it up. The Hill and WKYC also reported that Trump defended the advertisement despite growing bipartisan criticism. [1][3][4][6][9]

The campaign advertisement features Acton's estranged mother, Donna Stearns Arthur, accusing Acton of lying. The Hill reported that Acton called the advertisement despicable and exploitative, noting that her mother is not well. NPR Politics reported that Acton and her mother have been estranged since Acton was abused as a child by her stepfather. [2][3][7]

The advertisement has drawn sharp criticism from leaders within both political parties. The Hill reported that Republican Governor Mike DeWine of Ohio and his predecessor, former Republican Governor John Kasich, both called on Ramaswamy to take the advertisement down. [5]

As FTMQ Politics reported earlier, Acton's brother and family condemned the attack advertisement. Vice President JD Vance previously defended the commercial and criticized members of the Republican Party who spoke out against it. Ramaswamy and Acton are competing in the 2026 Ohio gubernatorial election, where incumbent Governor DeWine is ineligible to seek a third consecutive term. [14][15][16]