President Donald Trump told an Iowa rally audience Thursday that he stands behind Vivek Ramaswamy's controversial attack ad in the Ohio governor's race, saying he wishes he could have run a similar spot against one of his own opponents.
Speaking in the Hawkeye State, Trump mocked critics demanding the ad be pulled and said the Republican nominee for Ohio governor should leave it up, according to Mediaite.
What Trump Said at the Iowa Rally
Trump recalled what he described as pressure on Ramaswamy to withdraw the ad, which features the mother of Democratic candidate Amy Acton calling her daughter a liar and urging voters not to support her.
'He must take that ad down immediately,' Trump said mockingly, paraphrasing the criticism.
'No. The mother is calling the daughter a terrible person and a liar. Everybody should be so lucky,' Trump continued.
'Why would you shield somebody from that? Why would we do that? So I told him, leave it up and look upstairs and say thank you, God. But that's the hot story today. They want him to take down an ad. I only wish I could have had an ad like that against somebody, but as it turned out, we didn't need it. We won all seven swing states, we won the popular vote, we won everything,' Trump said.
The Ad and the Family History Behind It
The ad features Donna Arthur, Acton's mother, denouncing her daughter and telling voters not to cast ballots for her. Ramaswamy has since taken responsibility for the spot.
The two women have been estranged since Acton was a child, when she accused her stepfather of years of sexual abuse. The stepfather, who has since died, was indicted and fled the state. Arthur stayed with him until his death.
Veteran Democratic strategist David Axelrod cited Mahoning County Court records on Friday showing that Acton's stepfather was arrested and charged with sexually abusing Acton when she was 12 years old. After pleading not guilty, he posted bond and fled, remaining a fugitive until his death in 2004.
'This is the tragedy that Vivek, and POTUS, have chosen to exploit in the 11th hour of a losing campaign,' Axelrod wrote on X.
Critics Sound Off on Both Sides
The president's endorsement of the ad drew swift backlash, and not only from Democrats. According to The New York Times, Trump and Vice President JD Vance now find themselves at odds with Ohio's governor, secretary of state, Senator Jon Husted, former Governor John Kasich, and former Senator Rob Portman, all of whom have distanced themselves from the ad or called for it to come down. Even Ramaswamy's far-right primary opponent, Casey Putsch, has slammed the spot.
The Ramaswamy campaign has said it will continue airing the ad.
Axelrod framed Trump's refusal to disavow the ad as part of a pattern, writing that the president's credo is to 'never, EVER admit an error or a wrong.' He predicted the controversy would engulf not just Ramaswamy's campaign but the Republican Party if it follows the president's lead.
Journalist Terry Moran placed the episode in the context of the fast approaching Nov. 3 midterms, writing on X that the Republican closing argument to voters is not about fuel prices, health care, tariffs, data centers, or the war Trump launched against Iran. Instead, he argued, Trump, Vance, and Ramaswamy are forcing loyal Republicans and independents to ask themselves, 'How low can I go?'
Why the Ohio Race Matters Ahead of the Midterms
The dispute lands less than two weeks before the Nov. 3 midterm elections, with early voting already underway in Ohio and in Iowa. Ramaswamy, who ran for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination before dropping out and endorsing Trump, is locked in one of the most closely watched governor's races in the country.
The Washington Post analyzed the episode as a test of whether shock-oriented campaign tactics that Republicans have rewarded for a decade still carry any limits, noting that this latest ad has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum.
For Iowa Republicans, the president's comments Thursday reinforced his willingness to defend allies aggressively, even when fellow party members urge caution. Trump's rally remarks also served as a reminder of his 2024 sweep of the swing states, a point he has repeatedly emphasized as he campaigns for down-ballot Republicans this fall.
FAQ
What did Trump say about the Ramaswamy ad?
At an Iowa rally on Thursday, Trump said Ramaswamy should leave the ad up, adding that he wishes he could have run a similar ad against an opponent but did not need one because he won all seven swing states and the popular vote in 2024.
What does the controversial ad show?
The ad features Amy Acton's mother, Donna Arthur, calling her daughter a liar and telling voters not to support her. The two women have been estranged since Acton was a child, when she accused her stepfather of sexual abuse.
Who has criticized the ad?
Critics include Democratic strategist David Axelrod, journalist Terry Moran, and several Ohio Republicans, including Governor, Secretary of State, Senator Jon Husted, former Governor John Kasich, and former Senator Rob Portman, according to The New York Times.
When is the Ohio governor's election?
The election is part of the Nov. 3 midterms, less than two weeks after Trump's Iowa rally remarks.