The Ramaswamy campaign launched an ad that featured Donna Arthur, birth mother of Democratic candidate Amy Acton, accusing her of lying about childhood abuse.
Acton, 60, has publicly alleged sexual abuse by her stepfather and that her mother failed to protect her; court records have corroborated parts of her story.
Trump, who initially said he was unaware, later praised the ad on Truth Social as "very powerful," framing it as evidence that the press is suppressing effective political attacks. Vance urged GOP members to stop complaining and focus on winning elections. The endorsement came after the ad’s release, prompting a flurry of reactions.
Governor Mike DeWine, who supports Ramaswamy, called the spot "just wrong," while former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley decried Ramaswamy as "a bad guy." Republican lawmaker Nancy Mace slammed the ad as "nasty" and demanded it be pulled.
The controversy threatens to erode Republican gains in Ohio, where Ramaswamy trails Acton in the primary race. The campaign has yet to announce whether it will withdraw the spot ahead of the July 2 primary.
The next move will determine if the ad is pulled before the primary, shaping the GOP’s strategy for the rest of the season.