On Thursday, August 2, 2026, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that he wanted Republican challenger Vivek Ramaswamy to keep airing a new attack ad against Democratic contender Amy Acton.
The ad shows Acton's estranged mother, Donna Arthur, accusing her daughter of lying, cheating, and stealing, and urges voters to reject Acton, drawing on Arthur’s claim that she suffered homelessness and sexual abuse.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine called the ad ‘just wrong’ and said he would pressure Ramaswamy’s campaign to pull it, while Vice President JD Vance dismissed the backlash.
Ramaswamy’s spokesperson Connie Luck replied that they were unaware of the mother‑daughter dispute but called Acton a serial fabulist; the campaign has spent $4 million on the ad and has said it will continue to run it.
The controversy has rattled Ohio Republicans, with Senate hopeful Jon Husted saying he would never have run such an ad, and political scientist David Cohen warning that the attack could swing moderate voters away from the GOP.
As the November 3 mid‑term election approaches, the ad’s fate will be decided by Ramaswamy’s team, while Ohio voters brace for a campaign that may hinge on this divisive narrative.