Donald Trump criticized an NBC News reporter who questioned him about a controversial campaign ad involving Ohio gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton. The exchange grew tense as the reporter raised Acton’s account of childhood sexual abuse. Trump defended the ad before turning his criticism toward the journalist.
Donald Trump berates NBC News reporter over questions about Vivek Ramaswamy’s Amy Acton attack ad
During a Friday exchange with reporters, Trump defended an ad from Vivek Ramaswamy, the Republican candidate for Ohio governor. The ad features Donna Arthur, Acton’s estranged mother, criticizing her daughter and urging voters not to support her.
Trump argued that Arthur’s comments made the ad “fair game.” “Why shouldn’t somebody use that?” he asked, according to The New Republic.
An NBC News reporter then asked Trump whether the sexual abuse allegations surrounding Acton’s childhood changed his view of the ad. Trump asked which network the journalist worked for. After she identified NBC, he called it “one of the worst networks you have.”
“You’re a horrible little reporter, aren’t you?” Trump then said. He continued defending Arthur’s appearance in the campaign ad and said he did not know about Acton’s stepfather.
The controversy involves Acton’s estrangement from her mother and her account of being sexually abused by her stepfather, Cledith “Bud” Arthur, when she was a child. Court records show that Arthur was charged with rape in 1978 and later indicted for sexual conduct involving a child under 13. Records also show that he pleaded not guilty. The ultimate resolution of the case remains unclear.
Acton has said she stopped speaking to her mother after Arthur remained with her husband following the allegations. The campaign ad does not directly mention the sexual abuse case, but Donna Arthur accuses her daughter of lying about her childhood.
Trump continued to defend the ad despite questions about that history. He said his focus was on Arthur publicly criticizing her daughter and arguing that Acton should not become governor of Ohio.
