A campaign commercial has triggered a divide among Republicans, with Donald Trump defending a personal attack that members of his own party want removed. The dispute centers on Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy’s decision to feature the estranged mother of his Democratic rival, Amy Acton.
Donald Trump defends controversial ad despite GOP’s views
Donald Trump threw his support behind the advertisement in a Truth Social post Thursday. The ad features Donna Arthur calling Amy Acton a lifelong “liar” and warning Ohio voters against electing her governor. Trump accused the press on Truth Social of a “concerted and well coordinated” effort to pressure Vivek Ramaswamy into pulling the commercial (via CNBC).
Acton has said her relationship with her mother ended when she was just 12. Her stepfather, Cledith Arthur, was charged with sexually abusing her during childhood. He fled following his arrest and remained on the run until his death in Pennsylvania in 2004. Acton blasted the ad for exploiting such a deeply personal history, describing it as “horrible and hideous” and adding that her “mother is not well.”
The ad has even sparked a rift within Republican ranks. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, a fellow Republican who backs Ramaswamy’s campaign to take over the governor’s office, called the spot “deeply, deeply troubling.”
Trump then turned his fire on DeWine, implying the governor was effectively paving the way for a Democratic victory. Former Republican Sen. Rob Portman also joined the chorus of criticism, saying that the commercial “crosses the line.” He added, “I hope the ad will be taken down and the final days of the campaign will focus on policy differences.”
Vice President JD Vance offered a more complicated defense. During a Cincinnati visit Wednesday, he said judging the ad’s appropriateness was “not really my concern,” while accusing Republicans of “whining more“ about the commercial instead of Democratic policies.
The ad blitz comes with a hefty price tag. AdImpact data shows Ramaswamy’s campaign has already shelled out nearly $95,000 to get the spot on television. He had it running more than 100 times across Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati.
