Trump Defends Ramaswamy Ad, Attacks DeWine

President Donald Trump defended Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy’s ad featuring the estranged mother of Democratic rival Amy Acton, called it powerful, and urged the campaign to keep running it; he also attacked Gov. Mike DeWine and accused the media of coordinating efforts to suppress the ad. DeWine called the spot deeply troubling and urged Ramaswamy to withdraw it, but said he would not rescind his endorsement. The ad calls Acton a liar and questions her account that she was sexually abused by her stepfather and that her mother failed to protect her; Acton has been estranged from her mother for decades, and court records show her stepfather was indicted but fled before trial. Ramaswamy took responsibility for the ad, which has a reported $4 million in airtime behind it, and it has drawn bipartisan criticism; Vice President JD Vance also defended him. The dispute has intensified Ohio’s gubernatorial race ahead of the November election.