- Trump added he wishes the mothers of his opponents would be so brave as to come forward and call their children liars, and he called the ad 'hitting pay dirt.'
- Vance defended the ad, telling Republicans to 'stop whining.' LaRose stated he 'probably wouldn't run an ad like that,' but every candidate gets to make their own decision.
- Acton's campaign condemned the ad, and her brother called it a 'despicable low' and accused Ramaswamy of turning the sexual abuse she endured into a political talking point.
- Court documents provided by the campaign state that Arthur's now-deceased husband was charged with raping Acton when she was between 10 and 12 years old; he entered a not guilty plea and left the area while out on bond, and the case never went to trial.
Former President Donald Trump has publicly supported Vivek Ramaswamy's ad against Ohio gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton, which features her estranged mother. Trump described the ad as a 'very powerful' message, asserting that the media is attempting to discredit it because of its effectiveness.12
In a social media post, Trump stated, "The Press, in a concerted and well coordinated attack, is trying to get Vivek Ramaswamy to 'take down the Ad.'" He further emphasized that if the ad were about his own mother, it would be well-received, adding, "Who wouldn't use such an Ad? I would, it's called, 'hitting pay dirt.'"
However, the ad has drawn significant backlash. Acton's brother, Philip Stearns, criticized Ramaswamy for exploiting their mother's past, calling it a "despicable low" and highlighting the trauma Amy endured as a child. He stated, "It's not surprising that Vivek Ramaswamy has stooped to such a despicable low as to attempt to turn the sexual abuse Amy endured at twelve years old into a political talking point."
Despite the criticism, Republican J.D. Vance defended the ad, urging fellow Republicans to "stop whining" about its content. Meanwhile, other Republicans, including Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, expressed reservations about the ad's appropriateness, with LaRose stating he "probably wouldn't run an ad like that, but every candidate gets to make their own decision."34
The controversy surrounding the ad highlights the increasingly aggressive tactics in Ohio's gubernatorial race, as candidates navigate sensitive personal histories for political gain.
“Acton's brother, Philip Stearns, alleged the ad politicizes the sexual abuse she suffered at age 12 from her stepfather, who was charged but never tried. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said he 'probably wouldn't run an ad like that,' while court documents show the accused left on bond.”
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