Trump Defends Ramaswamy Ad Amid GOP Criticism Over Use of Opponent’s Estranged Mother

President Donald Trump intensified his defense of a controversial campaign advertisement released by Vivek Ramaswamy this week, dismissing growing condemnation from within the Republican party. Speaking at a rally in Ohio on October 28, 2026, Trump told supporters that Ramaswamy is being “treated very unfairly” over the spot, which targets gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton by featuring her estranged mother.

The $4 million advertisement, one of the largest single-ad expenditures in the final weeks of the Ohio race, has drawn national scrutiny for its use of Donna Arthur, Acton’s mother. In the footage, Arthur calls her daughter a “liar” and urges voters to reject her. However, the familial rift is rooted in a documented history of childhood trauma that has led even some of Ramaswamy’s allies to question the tactic.

The $4 million advertisement has sparked internal debate within the Republican party over its personal content.

Court records from 1978 show that Acton was removed from her mother’s custody at age 12 after her stepfather, Cledith Arthur, was indicted for raping her. Donna Arthur reportedly stood by her husband during the proceedings, a decision that led to a permanent estrangement. According to PBS News, the Ramaswamy campaign has continued to promote the ad despite these verified details of Acton’s childhood abuse.

Internal Republican Friction

The defense of the ad has created a sharp divide between Trump and established Ohio Republican leadership. Outgoing Republican Governor Mike DeWine publicly pleaded for the campaign to withdraw the spot, describing the advertisement as “wrong” and “deeply, deeply troubling.” In response, Trump took to Truth Social to attack the governor, labeling DeWine “disloyal to the Republican party” for his criticism of Ramaswamy’s strategy.

Trump’s support for the ad appears to be more than just public posturing. During a recent event, Trump recounted a private conversation with Ramaswamy in which he encouraged the candidate to keep the ad on the air. Trump reportedly told Ramaswamy to “leave it up and look upstairs and say, ‘Thank you, God, very much.'”

While the Ramaswamy campaign maintains the ad is intended to highlight “lying” rather than childhood trauma, the strategy has faced significant backlash.

Impact on the Race

The strategic gamble on “outrage marketing” may be impacting Ramaswamy’s standing with the electorate. According to reported internal GOP polling from October 29, Ramaswamy’s support has begun to slide, particularly among median and independent voters who expressed discomfort with the personal nature of the attacks. Some members of Ramaswamy’s own campaign staff have also reportedly expressed quiet outrage over the ad’s content, according to internal accounts.

Despite the dip in polling and the pleas from state officials, the Trump-backed campaign has shown no intention of pulling the footage. The escalating defense suggests that the former president views the “shock-jock” political style as a necessary component of the closing weeks of the 2026 cycle, regardless of the criticism from the party’s moderate wing.

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