President Donald Trump is standing firmly behind Republican Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy following a fierce controversy over a campaign advertisement featuring the estranged mother of his Democratic opponent, Amy Acton, who accuses her daughter of being dishonest.

The commercial has provoked criticism from Republicans and Democrats alike, with some political figures condemning the use of Acton’s painful family history in a statewide election campaign. Trump, however, has urged Ramaswamy to continue broadcasting the advertisement, arguing that its effectiveness is precisely why critics want it taken off the air.

In a lengthy message posted on Truth Social, Trump praised the commercial and accused the news media of attempting to pressure the Republican candidate into abandoning a powerful political attack.

“The Press is trying to convince everyone that this Ad is bad, because it’s so good!” Trump wrote. “Who wouldn’t use such an Ad? I would, it’s called, ‘hitting pay dirt.'”



The advertisement features Donna Arthur, Acton’s mother, delivering a sharply critical assessment of her daughter directly to the camera.

“It’s not easy for a mother to say this, but Amy has a serious problem,” Arthur says in the video. “She is a liar.”

The commercial has drawn particular scrutiny because of the deeply troubled relationship between Acton and her mother, which dates back to Acton’s childhood.

According to reporting by The Wall Street Journal, Acton became estranged from Arthur after her stepfather, who has since died, was charged with sexually abusing her. Her mother remained with the stepfather and subsequently relocated to another state.

The circumstances have prompted critics to question the appropriateness of featuring Arthur in a political advertisement attacking her daughter.

Acton’s brother denounced the commercial as a “despicable low,” pointing to the abuse his sister endured as a child and the painful family history surrounding her relationship with their mother.

The controversy has become a major issue in the closely contested race to replace Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, who is barred by term limits from seeking another consecutive term.

Trump has dismissed objections to the advertisement, contending that Democrats and major news organizations would embrace a comparable attack if it were directed at a Republican candidate.

The president also directed his anger at DeWine, who publicly urged Ramaswamy to stop airing the commercial. Trump branded the outgoing governor a “RINO” and questioned his loyalty to the Republican Party.

“He probably wants a Dumocrat to win, and certainly doesn’t want someone who will do a much better job than he is capable of doing,” Trump wrote.

DeWine, however, has maintained that the advertisement crosses an unacceptable line. Speaking to reporters Thursday, the Republican governor said, “It’s just wrong,” and called for the commercial to be withdrawn.

Ohio Republican Sen. Jon Husted, who is running for reelection in his own closely watched Senate contest, also expressed reservations about the campaign’s decision to feature Acton’s mother.

“I would not have run that ad,” Husted said.

Despite their objections, both DeWine and Husted have continued supporting Ramaswamy’s candidacy, separating their criticism of the advertisement from their positions in the gubernatorial race.

Vice President JD Vance has taken the opposite approach, defending Ramaswamy and criticizing fellow Republicans who have complained about the commercial.

Vance argued that “politics is a tough business,” dismissing the suggestion that the controversy required Ramaswamy to abandon the advertisement.

During a campaign appearance in Cincinnati on Wednesday, Vance also urged Republicans to stop complaining about the campaign’s tactics and concentrate on winning the election.

Trump revealed additional details about his involvement while addressing supporters Thursday evening at a rally in Sioux City, Iowa.

According to the president, Ramaswamy personally contacted him to ask whether he should withdraw the commercial amid the growing backlash.

Trump said he advised the candidate to ignore the criticism and continue broadcasting it.

“So I told him, leave it up and look upstairs and say: ‘thank you, God, very much,'” Trump said.

Ramaswamy’s campaign has committed approximately $4 million to promoting the advertisement, which began airing on television Thursday after initially circulating online.

The campaign has defended its decision, arguing that Arthur’s allegations raise legitimate questions about Acton’s credibility.

Acton’s campaign has strongly rejected that characterization, accusing Ramaswamy of exploiting a painful childhood experience for political purposes.

The controversy has also prompted renewed examination of the events surrounding Acton’s childhood. Court records from Mahoning County dating to 1978 document proceedings involving the removal of Acton and her brother from their mother’s household after their stepfather was indicted on a rape charge involving Acton, who was 12 at the time.

The records indicate that the stepfather subsequently disappeared from his last known address and was never taken into custody despite multiple arrest warrants. Arthur remained married to him until his death in 2004.

The documents have drawn additional attention because Arthur’s appearance in the advertisement challenges her daughter’s account of her childhood. Acton’s brother has publicly supported his sister’s description of the abuse and family circumstances.

Acton, a physician who previously served as Ohio’s health director, has said she has not seen her mother since 1978.

The dispute has erupted at a particularly sensitive point in the governor’s race, with several recent surveys showing Acton ahead of Ramaswamy.

A Fox News poll conducted October 15–19 placed Acton at 50 percent and Ramaswamy at 48 percent among likely voters, a two-point difference within the survey’s margin of error.

A separate Marist poll conducted October 15–18 found Acton receiving 50 percent support compared with 43 percent for Ramaswamy. Other surveys have shown smaller differences between the candidates, underscoring the uncertainty surrounding the November 3 election.

The race has attracted national attention because Ohio has not elected a Democratic governor in two decades, while Trump carried the state by approximately 11 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election.

Ramaswamy, a businessman and former presidential candidate, entered the race with Trump’s endorsement and has emphasized reducing taxes, combating crime and advancing conservative policies.

Trump reiterated his support Friday, describing Ramaswamy as “a brilliant and outstanding person” and predicting that his administration would “MAKE OHIO GREAT AGAIN.”

With Election Day approaching, the controversy has become a central feature of the campaign’s closing weeks, placing the candidates’ competing arguments about character and judgment alongside the economic and policy issues that have dominated much of the contest.