Trump Defends Ramaswamy Ad Featuring Rival's Estranged Mother, Cites Own Mother
President Donald Trump asserted he "knows nothing" about a controversial campaign ad but defended its use of a rival's mother, suggesting media bias and drawing a parallel to his own mother.
President Donald Trump defended a controversial campaign advertisement run by Ohio gubernatorial hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy, which featured the estranged mother of Democratic rival Amy Acton. Trump stated he had no prior knowledge of the ad but argued its content was fair game.
"I know nothing about it," Trump told reporters. "I'm defending it because I know that if that ad were about my mother, you would love it. You would love every inch of it."
The ad included remarks from Donna Arthur, Acton's mother, who has been estranged from her daughter since childhood. Arthur called Acton a "liar" and criticized her past, urging voters not to support her daughter's candidacy. Acton and her brother were removed from Arthur's custody years ago after Acton's stepfather was charged with sexually abusing Acton as a child.
When questioned on whether certain political attacks should be off-limits, Trump invoked his own mother, Mary MacLeod Trump. "I know one thing: if my mother said bad things about me, it would be - you would have hit goals," he said, implying the media would have amplified such a story.
Trump suggested that if Acton's mother made negative statements, "I think you have to take that seriously." He also accused the media of unfairly criticizing Ramaswamy for the ad. "The only problem is the press has decided to unify and act like it's a horrible thing," Trump stated.
Earlier on Thursday, Trump criticized Ohio Governor Mike DeWine for calling the ad "deeply, deeply troubling." Trump suggested DeWine might prefer a Democratic victory and "doesn't want someone who will do a much better job than he is capable of doing."
Ohio has become a focal point in the upcoming gubernatorial election, with recent polling averages showing Acton slightly ahead of Ramaswamy. Ramaswamy, who previously ran against Trump in the 2024 Republican presidential primary, endorsed Trump after the Iowa caucuses.
Trump is scheduled to hold another rally in Chillicothe, Ohio, on Wednesday.