Donald Trump Jr. told a crowd that Democratic candidates want to turn Ohio into a state — a claim that overlooks more than two centuries of history. Ohio joined the Union as the 17th state on February 19, 1803. Trump Jr. did not explain how Democrats could bring about such a change.
Donald Trump Jr. made the statement at a November 2 campaign event
The remark was made a day before midterm elections in Swanton, Ohio, where Vice President JD Vance hosted a campaign stop. Donald Trump Jr. used his speech to run through what he believes Democrats are after ahead of the midterm elections.
“They want to pack the Supreme Court,” he said. “They want to make Ohio a state, make DC a state, have permanent one-party rule, all apparently, I don’t know how it works, but you know, they can do these things and get away with it. All in the name of somehow preserving democracy.” He then called the Democratic frontrunners “the most radical people ever put forth by the Democrat[ic] party.”
Trump Jr. also singled out Dr. Amy Acton, the Democratic candidate for Ohio governor. He accused her of alcohol abuse, among other things. That accusation echoes a political action committee ad that Politifact described as false.
The ad said Acton “admitted” to alcohol abuse and pointed to her 1994 medical license application. On that form, she answered “yes” to a question about treatment for “emotional or mental illness, drug addiction or abuse, or an alcohol problem.”
Her campaign told Politifact the answer covered outpatient therapy she received after surviving childhood sexual abuse. Trump Jr. ended by telling the audience: “You guys have the ability to stop all of that tomorrow.”
Separately, a tungsten mining company linked to Trump Jr. and his brother, Eric Trump, is preparing to go public. The company, set to operate as Kaz Resources, plans to list shares directly in the U.S. next year. That would give both brothers a stake in its Kazakhstan project. The business has pursued government funding and has attracted scrutiny from Democrats.
