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PoliticsQuiet 14d · day 23

Trump Defends Ramaswamy's Attack Ad on Acton's Estranged Mother as GOP Splits

DeWine, Husted and other Republicans call the ad 'deeply troubling' while Trump and Vance back Ramaswamy, deepening a GOP rift in the Ohio governor's race.

newest coverage 14d agosummary written 16d ago575 pieces15k likes & upvotes1.4k comments NewswiresXMastodonGoogle NewsRedditYouTubeBluesky

Part of a larger narrative

Ramaswamy's Acton attack ad triggers venue boycotts, paper's endorsement reversal

6 stories · since Oct 14 · newest 8d ago

  1. Ramaswamy pulls Ohio ad featuring Acton's estranged mother after backlash
  2. Zeteo: Republicans warned Ramaswamy his Acton-mother ad would backfire
  3. Ramaswamy's Acton attack ad triggers venue boycotts, paper's endorsement reversal
  4. Ramaswamy campaign admits creating ad featuring Acton's estranged mother
  5. Trump Defends Ramaswamy's Attack Ad on Acton's Estranged Mother as GOP Splitsyou are here
All 6 stories in this narrative →

What to know

  • Ramaswamy's ad features Amy Acton's estranged mother disputing Acton's account of childhood sexual abuse, drawing bipartisan condemnation.
  • Ohio Republicans DeWine and Husted publicly criticize the ad, but DeWine has not withdrawn his endorsement of Ramaswamy.
  • Trump and Vance have both defended Ramaswamy and cast Republican critics as 'whining,' widening a visible split within the GOP.
  • Reporting links the controversy to a drop in Ramaswamy's polling in the closely watched, expensive Ohio governor's race.

The dispute Commenters split over whether DeWine's and Husted's public criticism is meaningful accountability or empty, since DeWine refuses to withdraw his endorsement. · positions read across 82 posts and comments

most voices

The ad and GOP's defense of it show the party protecting abusers and attacking victims.

  • “It totally makes sense for Republicans to feature someone who protected a sexual predator in their ads. it's a badge of honor in MAGA now.”

    Virtual-Squirrel-725 · Reddit ↗
many voices

JD Vance's defense of the ad reveals a personal callousness beyond normal politics.

  • “You just know if Vance didn't get into politics he would have dumped bodies down the highway at regular intervals. He straight doesn't have empathy...”

    CV90_120 · Reddit ↗
some voices

The backlash won't matter politically; the damage to Acton among GOP voters is already done.

  • “The damage is done. Any MAGA that saw the ad now believes it 100%. I'm sure Vivek understood that from the start.”

    Knuth_Koder · Reddit ↗

Vivek RamaswamyVivek Ramaswamy Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidateAmy ActonAmy Acton Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidateMike DeWineMike DeWine Outgoing Ohio Republican GovernorJon HustedJon Husted Ohio Republican U.S. SenatorJD VanceJD Vance U.S. Vice PresidentDonald TrumpDonald Trump U.S. President

Trump Defends Ramaswamy's Attack Ad on Acton's Estranged Mother as GOP Splits
Newsweek

How it unfolded 8 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesvideospostscomments

Peak 116 pieces in 6h at Oct 22, 8 AM; 575 pieces over 23 days (387 articles · 28 videos · 142 posts · 18 comments) Oct 16, 2 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Oct 16, 8 PM — quietOct 17, 2 AM — quietOct 17, 8 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Oct 17, 2 PM — quietOct 17, 8 PM — quietOct 18, 2 AM — quietOct 18, 8 AM — quietOct 18, 2 PM — quietOct 18, 8 PM — quietOct 19, 2 AM — quietOct 19, 8 AM — quietOct 19, 2 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Oct 19, 8 PM — quietOct 20, 2 AM — quietOct 20, 8 AM — 21 pieces · 21 articles — Newswires 21Oct 20, 2 PM — 4 pieces · 3 articles · 1 post — Google News 3, X 1Oct 20, 8 PM — 7 pieces · 5 articles · 2 posts — Newswires 3, Mastodon 2, Google News 2Oct 21, 2 AM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Google News 1, Newswires 1Oct 21, 8 AM — 106 pieces · 92 articles · 3 videos · 11 posts — Newswires 63, Google News 28, Mastodon 5, +3 moreOct 21, 2 PM — 109 pieces · 59 articles · 7 videos · 39 posts · 4 comments — Newswires 41, Mastodon 26, Google News 17, +3 moreOct 21, 8 PM — 21 pieces · 8 articles · 3 videos · 9 posts · 1 comment — Mastodon 7, Google News 5, Newswires 3, +3 moreOct 22, 2 AM — 18 pieces · 12 articles · 6 posts — Google News 8, Mastodon 4, Newswires 4, +1 moreOct 22, 8 AM — 116 pieces · 89 articles · 26 posts · 1 comment — Newswires 83, Bluesky 12, Mastodon 7, +3 moreOct 22, 2 PM — 76 pieces · 42 articles · 6 videos · 24 posts · 4 comments — Newswires 34, Mastodon 20, Google News 8, +3 moreOct 22, 8 PM — 27 pieces · 10 articles · 3 videos · 10 posts · 4 comments — Mastodon 7, Google News 6, Reddit 5, +3 moreOct 23, 2 AM — 12 pieces · 6 articles · 1 video · 3 posts · 2 comments — Newswires 3, Mastodon 3, Google News 2, +3 moreOct 23, 8 AM — 52 pieces · 35 articles · 5 videos · 11 posts · 1 comment — Newswires 35, Mastodon 7, YouTube 5, +3 moreOct 23, 2 PM — quietOct 23, 8 PM — quietOct 24, 2 AM — quietOct 24, 8 AM — quietOct 24, 2 PM — quietOct 24, 8 PM — quietOct 25, 2 AM — quietOct 25, 8 AM — quietOct 25, 2 PM — 1 piece · 1 comment — Reddit 1Oct 25, 8 PM — quietOct 26, 2 AM — quietOct 26, 8 AM — quietOct 26, 2 PM — quietOct 26, 8 PM — quietOct 27, 2 AM — quietOct 27, 8 AM — quietOct 27, 2 PM — quietOct 27, 8 PM — quietOct 28, 2 AM — quietOct 28, 8 AM — quietOct 28, 2 PM — quietOct 28, 8 PM — quietOct 29, 2 AM — quietOct 29, 8 AM — quietOct 29, 2 PM — quietOct 29, 8 PM — quietOct 30, 2 AM — quietOct 30, 8 AM — quietOct 30, 2 PM — quietOct 30, 8 PM — quietOct 31, 2 AM — quietOct 31, 8 AM — quietOct 31, 2 PM — quietOct 31, 8 PM — quietNov 1, 1 AM — quietNov 1, 7 AM — quietNov 1, 1 PM — quietNov 1, 7 PM — quietNov 2, 1 AM — quietNov 2, 7 AM — quietNov 2, 1 PM — quietNov 2, 7 PM — quietNov 3, 1 AM — quietNov 3, 7 AM — quietNov 3, 1 PM — quietNov 3, 7 PM — quietNov 4, 1 AM — quietNov 4, 7 AM — quietNov 4, 1 PM — quietNov 4, 7 PM — quietNov 5, 1 AM — quietNov 5, 7 AM — quietNov 5, 1 PM — quietNov 5, 7 PM — quietNov 6, 1 AM — quietNov 6, 7 AM — quietNov 6, 1 PM — quietNov 6, 7 PM — quietYesterday, 1 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — quietYesterday, 1 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietToday, 1 AM — quietToday, 7 AM — quietToday, 1 PM — quiet 1–45–67–8
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  1. 7

    GOP rift widens as conservative media split over Trump's praise

    Trump and Vance frame Republican critics of the ad as 'whining,' while some conservative commentators continue to criticize it; the New Republic reports panic among Republicans after Trump's endorsement of the ad amplified the controversy.

    “It writes itself…”
    — Jesse Watters
    1. 1 outlet VANCE BASHES GOP “WHINING” OVER ANTI-ACTON AD

      first by CBS News, 18d ago

    • Trump continues to defend Vivek Ramaswamy’s despicable ad: I don’t know anything about a stepfather. This has nothing to do with the stepfather. I know that her mother got on television and said that her daughter shouldn’t be the governor of Ohio. She says her daughter is a

      @RpsAgainstTrumpX16d ago431▲view on X ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 3 posts in this stretch
    • memeorandum@universeodon.com

      Vivek Ramaswamy's Trump Act Could Be His Undoing (Jonathan Martin/Politico) https://www. politico.com/news/magazine/202 6/10/23/vivek-ramaswamy-amy-acton-ad-trump-party-01133488 http://www. memeorandum.com/261023/p70#a26 1023p70

      memeorandum@universeodon.comMastodon16d agoview on Mastodon ↗

    • I think everyone had that initial response, because it’s exactly what we’re conditioned to expect a normal human to say. But no. He endorsed the attack on the woman who was repeatedly raped by her stepdad until she was 12.

      FoxyInTheSnowr/politics14d agoview on r/politics ↗
    all of them →
  2. 8

    Trump defends Ramaswamy's use of the Acton ad

    President Trump publicly backs Ramaswamy's decision to run and keep the ad despite the bipartisan backlash, including from fellow Ohio Republicans DeWine and Husted.

    1. 11 outlets Republican Gov. Mike DeWine denounces Ramaswamy ad featuring Democrat Amy Acton's estranged mother

      first by Cleveland 19 News, 16d ago · also AP News, Philadelphia Inquirer, CP24, CTV News, Associated Press, Washington Times +4

      3 more headlines
    2. 4 outlets Vivek Ramaswamy slams news media for ‘lying’ about Amy Acton ad

      first by Washington Examiner, 16d ago · also Newsweek, National Politics, Philadelphia Inquirer

      4 more headlines
    8 more claims →
    • democracynow.org

      Backlash to Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy's ad featuring his Democratic rival Amy Acton's estranged mother has put Republican candidates throughout Ohio in jeopardy. @abbyvesoulis.bsky.social reports.

      democracynow.orgBluesky16d ago160▲view on Bluesky ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 8 posts in this stretch

    • It was, by my own estimate, meant solely as a way to hurt a democrat and abuse survivor. It was meant as a suckerpunch. It was meant to try and hurt as much as humanly possible because the goal wasn’t to sway voters, it was to put her trauma on blast from the tallest towers of our institutions. They are hoping to make it so eminently painful for…

      sando138r/politics16d agoview on r/politics ↗
    • servelan@newsie.social

      "Ramaswamy’s ad is morally reprehensible and electorally disqualifying. It demonstrates utter contempt for survivors of sexual abuse and domestic violence. It is also unsurprising. Protecting abusers is an organizing principle of Donald Trump’s Republican Party" Vivek Ramaswamy’s Vile Attack Ad Is Trumpism in a Nutshell | Portside https://…

      servelan@newsie.socialMastodon16d agoview on Mastodon ↗
    all of them →
  3. 6

    DeWine calls the ad 'deeply troubling,' asks it be pulled

    Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, says the ad is wrong and urges Ramaswamy to take it down, though he declines to rescind his endorsement of Ramaswamy's campaign.

    “the ad is deeply, deeply troubling…”
    — Mike DeWine
    1. 22 outlets President Trump defends controversial ad featuring Amy Acton's estranged mother as backlash grows

      first by WKYC, 17d ago · also PennLive, Los Angeles Times, WTOP News, Denver Post, MS NOW, VINnews +15

      17 more headlines
    2. 7 outlets Trump and Vance attack Republicans “whining” about Vivek Ramaswamy's ad against Amy Acton. Here are the conservative media personalities who criticized it.

      first by Media Matters for America, 17d ago · also CNBC, PBS NewsHour, Associated Press, CBS News, The Times of India, Daily Caller

      6 more headlines
    7 more claims →

    • Gov. Mike DeWine talks about Vivek Ramaswamy’s ad featuring Amy Acton’s mother saying she is lying about her past - “the ad is deeply, deeply troubling” and that when you know the full story “it makes it more wrong”

      @karenkaslerX17d ago2.9k▲view on X ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 38 posts in this stretch
    • kylegriffin1.bsky.social

      BREAKING: COLUMBUS, OHIO (AP) - Ohio GOP Gov. DeWine says Vivek Ramaswamy was wrong to run campaign ad featuring Democratic opponent's estranged mother.

      kylegriffin1.bsky.socialBluesky17d ago2.3k▲view on Bluesky ↗
    • cdarwin@c.im

      'Deeply troubling': Republican governor of Ohio calls on Ramaswamy to take down campaign ad featuring Democratic opponent's estranged mother Mike DeWine, the outgoing Republican governor of Ohio, has called on Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign to take down the recent ad that includes the estranged mother of his Democratic opponent, Amy Acton. DeWine…

      cdarwin@c.imMastodon17d agoview on Mastodon ↗
    all of them →
  4. 5

    Reporting ties ad backlash to falling Ramaswamy poll numbers

    Coverage including Newsweek reports Ramaswamy's electoral standing dropping amid the controversy, with his own campaign having billed the ad as a race-defining move.

    • washingtonpost.com

      The bombshell campaign ad that Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy intended as an October surprise against Democrat Amy Acton has indeed exploded. Early indications are that it did so in Ramaswamy’s own face.

      washingtonpost.comBluesky17d ago385▲view on Bluesky ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 9 posts in this stretch
    • cdarwin@c.im

      Ramaswamy admits responsibility for sleazy ad with Amy Acton’s mother and will spend millions to promote it Dr Amy Acton’s campaign released a statement from her brother, Philip Stearns, who said the two were removed from their mother Donna Arthur’s custody as children after their stepfather, Arthur’s husband, was indicted for raping Acton as a…

      cdarwin@c.imMastodon17d agoview on Mastodon ↗

    • Raped her from the ages of 9 until she reported it at 12. Child Protective Sevices found her and her little brothers living in squalor. Think of how bad it was to have CPS remove children from an home in 1979. The Mom abandoned all of her kids and fled to another state to protect the rapist of her daughter.

      renegadescir/politics17d agoview on r/politics ↗
    all of them →
  5. 4

    Vance defends Ramaswamy's ad as fair politics

    Asked whether the ad was appropriate, Vice President JD Vance defends Ramaswamy, framing the attack on Acton's honesty as legitimate campaign messaging.

    “Vivek Ramaswamy had the audacity to run a TV commercial which calls it out like it is and calls Amy Acton a liar…”
    — JD Vance
    1. 21 outlets Vance blasts GOP pushback to Ramaswamy ad featuring Acton's estranged mother during Ohio stop

      first by WTTG-TV, 18d ago · also NewsNation, Fox News, National Politics, Cleveland 19 News, Washington Examiner, Ohio Capital Journal +14

      14 more headlines
    2. 10 outlets Vance Tells Republicans to ‘Stop Whining’ About Ramaswamy's Viral Attack Ad

      first by The Washington Sun, 18d ago · also NBC News, Politico, Yahoo, Guardian US, Cincinnati Enquirer, India Today +3

      8 more headlines
    6 more claims →

    • WOW -- Vance *defends* Ramaswamy's reprehensible ad 👇 Q: Ramaswamy's campaign put out a controversial ad featuring his opponent's mother. Some Republicans are backing away from that. Do you think that ad was appropriate? JD VANCE: Well, I'll be honest with you. Whether the ad

      @atruparX18d ago2.5k▲view on X ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 21 posts in this stretch
    • carlquintanilla.bsky.social

      “.. I would not have run that ad,” Republican Sen. Jon Husted said in a statement to The Associated Press. @apnews.com #OHgov

      carlquintanilla.bsky.socialBluesky18d ago453▲view on Bluesky ↗
    • curtisysmith@denton.social

      # USpol Vivek’s campaign manager proclaimed this would be a campaign ending ad. Mission accomplished. Oops, wrong campaign. I’ve always known Vivek is an absolute piece of shit. I didn’t need this story to reinforce that, but it does show that the GOP continues to proudly platform pedophile protectors. That seems to be baked into the party now…

      curtisysmith@denton.socialMastodon18d ago1▲view on Mastodon ↗
    all of them →
  6. 3

    Ohio Sen. Husted breaks with Ramaswamy over the ad

    Republican Sen. Jon Husted tells the AP he would not have run the ad, becoming one of the first Republicans to distance himself from it.

    “I would not have run that ad.”
    — Jon Husted
    1. 2 outlets Ohio GOP senator: ‘I would not have run’ Ramaswamy ad

      first by The Hill, 17d ago · also Washington Examiner

      1 more headline
  7. 2

    Ramaswamy takes responsibility, doubles down on the ad

    Facing bipartisan pushback, Ramaswamy's campaign says it will keep airing the ad and spend millions more to promote it, deepening a personal fight in the closely watched race.

    1. 5 outlets first by Philadelphia Inquirer, 16d ago · also Los Angeles Times, HuffPost, Associated Press, WTOP News · read ↗

    2. 2 outlets first by CBS News, 17d ago · also The Hill · read ↗

    1 more claim →
    • axios@mastodon.social

      RT @axiosalex: SCOOP: Vivek Ramaswamy is doubling down on the explosive ad featuring Amy Acton's estranged mother attacking her daughter, putting $4 million behind it despite fierce bipartisan backlash More >>

      axios@mastodon.socialMastodon18d agoview on Mastodon ↗
    1 more of the top 2 · 2 posts in this stretch
    • realTuckFrumper@mastodon.social

      Ramaswamy takes responsibility for attack ad featuring Acton’s estranged mother # TheHill

      realTuckFrumper@mastodon.socialMastodon18d agoview on Mastodon ↗
    all of them →
  8. 1

    Critics call the Acton ad disgusting and exploitative

    The ad featuring Amy Acton's estranged mother accusing her of lying about her past draws immediate condemnation from commentators who say it weaponizes childhood sexual abuse.

    “Weaponizing a woman's childhood sexual abuse is despicable. And so is her mother for doing it.”
    — Tara Setmayer
    1. 6 outlets Vivek Ramaswamy ad lies about Amy Acton’s energy policies

      first by Cleveland.com, 23d ago · also Media Matters for America, Newsweek, ActiVote, Washington Examiner, The Independent

      6 more headlines

    • Have you seen this disgusting attack ad against @amyactonoh (D) in OH? Vivek Ramaswamy has always been insufferably sleezy, but this is next level. Weaponizing a woman’s childhood sexual abuse is despicable. And so is her mother for doing it.

      @TaraSetmayerX18d ago661▲view on X ↗

Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet

  1. 5 outlets Vivek Ramaswamy Confronted By Heckler Over Ad With Opponent's Estranged Mother

    first by HuffPost, 18d ago · also Mediaite, Grabien, Bloomberg, SCMP

    3 more headlines
  2. 4 outlets Republican Governor Mike DeWine denounces Ramaswamy ad featuring Democrat Amy Acton’s estranged mother

    first by Boston Globe, 17d ago · also The Statehouse News Bureau, The Hill, Washington Examiner

    3 more headlines
  3. 3 outlets Trump says Ramaswamy asked for advice after controversial attack ad. Here’s what he told him.

    first by NJ.com, 16d ago · also PennLive, MassLive

  4. 3 outlets S15 EP190: Hour 3 - Ramaswamy's Ad Against Amy Acton Has Ohio Republicans on Defense

    first by Erick Erickson's Show Notes, 17d ago · also Bloomberg, The Hill

    2 more headlines
  5. 3 outlets Trump calls Ohio Gov. DeWine disloyal after he presses for GOP gubernatorial nominee Ramaswamy to pull controversial ad

    first by Philadelphia Inquirer, 17d ago · also Bloomberg, Forbes

    2 more headlines
  6. 3 outlets Trump Backs Vivek Ramaswamy Attack Ad in Rambling Truth Social Post

    first by TMZ.com, 17d ago · also The Nation, New Republic

    2 more headlines
  7. 3 outlets Ohio Governor Race Shifts in Amy Acton’s Favor Following Attack Ad

    first by Newsweek, 17d ago · also NPR, Yahoo

    1 more headline
  8. 3 outlets GOP firebrand blasts Ramaswamy ad as the ‘most shameful, disgusting, offensive ad’

    first by NJ.com, 17d ago · also PennLive, MassLive

  9. 3 outlets Ohio Governor's Race Roiled by Ad With Democrat's Estranged Mother Attacking Her

    first by Wall Street Journal, 18d ago · also BBC, CBS News

    3 more headlines
  10. 3 outlets Nancy Mace Slams Ramaswamy's ‘Shameful’ and ‘Disgusting’ Ad

    first by Mediaite, 18d ago · also The Hill, Breitbart

    2 more headlines

and 45 smaller pieces

What people are saying 10 voices from 4 sites · best of 82 · verbatim

Still unanswered
  • Will DeWine actually rescind his endorsement of Ramaswamy?
  • Will the controversy change the outcome of the Ohio governor's race?