Trump Defends Ramaswamy Ad Using Estranged Mother in Ohio Race
Cover image from crooksandliars.com, which was analyzed for this article
President Trump defended a GOP nominee's ad featuring a Democratic opponent's estranged mother, calling it powerful, while drawing criticism from some Republicans including Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. The ad has sparked internal GOP tensions ahead of midterms.
PoliticalOS
Friday, October 23, 2026 — Politics
Trump's defense has highlighted splits inside the Republican Party over the use of family estrangement claims in campaign advertising, with several elected Republicans publicly urging Ramaswamy to withdraw the spot while the president encourages him to keep running it.
What outlets missed
Several outlets omitted the exact 1978 court details and the brother's on-record statement. Few reported the $4 million media buy commitment or Trump's direct quote instructing Ramaswamy to ride with the ad. Coverage rarely included the full range of Republican responses beyond the most critical voices or noted that DeWine maintained his endorsement despite his criticism.
The Ohio governor's race has drawn national attention after Republican nominee Vivek Ramaswamy aired an advertisement featuring statements from Democratic opponent Amy Acton's estranged mother. President Donald Trump publicly endorsed the spot and urged Ramaswamy to continue running it, while several fellow Republicans called for its removal.
Acton's mother, Donna Arthur, has said her daughter is dishonest and unreliable. Court records from 1978 show Arthur remained with her husband after he was charged with raping the then-12-year-old Acton; the couple later left Ohio. Acton's brother has described the advertisement as despicable. Ramaswamy's campaign has committed roughly $4 million to air the ad.
Trump addressed the matter on the White House South Lawn and in a Truth Social post. He stated that the mother's comments were serious and that the advertisement was fair game. He also criticized Ohio Governor Mike DeWine for urging the ad's withdrawal, calling the governor disloyal. At a rally in Iowa, Trump said he told Ramaswamy to keep the spot on the air.
DeWine called the advertisement deeply troubling and wrong. Iowa Senate candidate Ashley Hinson said it was terrible and should be taken down, adding that it forced Acton to relive childhood trauma. Vice President JD Vance said Republicans criticizing the ad were focusing on the wrong issue. Chris Hayes of MSNBC described the episode as a test of moral limits within the party.
The dispute occurs weeks before the midterm elections, with Ramaswamy seeking to succeed DeWine. Polls have shown the race competitive, though no recent public survey has measured the advertisement's specific effect on voter preferences.
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