Trump defends Ramaswamy’s divisive ad featuring Amy Acton in Ohio governor’s race: What sparked the row?

Columbus (United States): US President Donald Trump has backed Republican candidate for Ohio governor Vivek Ramaswamy’s controversial campaign advertisement featuring the estranged mother of his Democratic rival, Amy Acton, urging him to keep it on air despite criticism from Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.

Trump described the advertisement as “hitting pay dirt” in a social media post on Thursday, while attacking DeWine for calling it “deeply, deeply troubling” and urging Ramaswamy to withdraw it.

The advertisement features Acton’s biological mother, Donna Arthur, calling her daughter a liar and questioning her mental health. The campaign has sparked criticism across party lines, exposing divisions among Ohio Republicans ahead of the state’s gubernatorial election.

Trump, however, defended the advertisement and accused Acton of dishonesty, saying her mother should be allowed to explain why she believed her daughter was an unsuitable candidate.

Why Ohio Governor Mike DeWine objected

DeWine, a Republican who has endorsed Ramaswamy, urged the candidate to take down the advertisement, citing the sensitive circumstances surrounding Acton’s childhood.

Speaking to reporters at the Ohio Statehouse, DeWine recalled his experiences dealing with victims of sexual abuse during his time as a county prosecutor and state attorney general.

“It’s wrong to run this ad,” he said, urging the Ramaswamy campaign to withdraw it.

Acton, who served as Ohio’s health director during the COVID-19 pandemic, has spoken publicly about experiencing homelessness and abuse as a child. Her mother lost custody of Acton and her brother after her husband, Cledith Arthur, was indicted on a rape charge involving Acton when she was 12.

Court and police records cited by The Associated Press show that Cledith Arthur was charged in July 1978 after Acton’s biological father filed a formal complaint. He later failed to appear in court and became a fugitive. He died in 2004.

Acton’s campaign has defended her account of her childhood. On Tuesday, it released a video featuring her brother, who supported her account of living in a tent and experiencing abuse.
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DeWine retains endorsement despite criticism

Although DeWine criticised the advertisement, he stopped short of withdrawing his endorsement of Ramaswamy.

The governor also said that attacks involving candidates’ family members should be avoided. He referred to an earlier attack by Acton’s campaign concerning Ramaswamy’s mother, Geetha Ramaswamy, and her role at a pharmaceutical company run by her son.

Acton and other Democrats had accused Ramaswamy of hiring his mother to manipulate clinical trial data. Ramaswamy’s campaign rejected those allegations as “slanderous”.

Campaign spokesperson Connie Luck accused DeWine and the media of applying a double standard, arguing that Acton’s campaign had been the first to target an opponent’s mother.

Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur and former Republican presidential candidate, plans to spend $4 million to broadcast the advertisement online and on television.

Ohio Republicans divided over controversial ad

The advertisement has exposed a growing rift among Republicans, with several prominent party figures criticising the campaign’s approach.

Republican Vice President JD Vance, an Ohio native, expressed disgust at Republicans who complained about the advertisement during a campaign visit on Wednesday, describing their objections as “whining”.

However, Republican US Senator Jon Husted, who is facing Democrat Sherrod Brown in a closely watched Senate race, said he would not have run the advertisement. Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose, who is running for state auditor, also distanced himself from it.

Former Republican US Representative Jim Renacci warned that the controversy could seriously damage the party’s gubernatorial campaign, urging Republicans to distance themselves from the advertisement.

Ohio Republican Party Chairman Alex Triantafilou also appeared to caution party members against publicly breaking ranks, writing on social media that the final days of a difficult campaign reveal “who is really with you and who just posts and pretends”.
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Trump’s backing intensifies political row

The controversy has also drawn reactions from national political figures and conservative media outlets.

Former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, who clashed with Ramaswamy during the 2024 Republican presidential primary, called him “a bad guy” in a social media post on Tuesday.

At the same time, several conservative media personalities have praised the advertisement. Ramaswamy’s campaign manager, Jonathan Ewing, described it as “a campaign-ending moment” for Acton.
Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, Democrat Amy Acton and Libertarian Don Kissick are contesting the November 3 election for a four-year term as Ohio governor.

The dispute comes as Ohio’s gubernatorial race and its US Senate contest appear more competitive than expected in a state Trump has won three times.

Trump’s public support for the advertisement puts him at odds with DeWine, who has endorsed Ramaswamy but questioned the use of Acton’s family history in the campaign.