Donald Trump endorsed a controversial attack ad by Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy featuring the estranged mother of Democratic opponent Amy Acton.
The ad, released this week, shows Donna Arthur calling her daughter a “liar” and urging Ohioans not to vote for her. Acton has said she has not seen her mother since 1978, after Arthur’s husband was indicted for raping Acton when she was 12. The couple fled the state, and the case was never prosecuted. Acton’s brother has publicly supported her account of abuse and homelessness.
Trump praised the ad as “very powerful” on Truth Social and urged Ramaswamy to keep it running. “Frankly, anybody whose mother spoke about a daughter in that way would normally lead to the daughter being precluded from serving in Office, let alone the Office of Governor,” he wrote . He also attacked Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican, for calling the ad “deeply, deeply troubling” and suggesting it be taken down. “He probably wants a Dumocrat to win,” Trump wrote .
The ad has drawn bipartisan criticism. Ohio Republican Senator Jon Husted said he would not have run it, while former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley called Ramaswamy “a bad guy” . Conservative commentator Scott Jennings warned it could “blow up” in the party’s face. Ramaswamy has defended the ad as legitimate and accused Acton of avoiding substantive issues.
Acton’s campaign condemned the ad as a “despicable low” and released a video featuring her brother, who corroborated her claims of abuse. Polls show the Ohio governor’s race is tight, with early voting underway ahead of the November 3 election .
