Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday, Oct. 21, defended Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy‘s controversial campaign ad and criticized Republicans who thought it was inappropriate, arguing that they were focused on the wrong fight.
“I have to admit that I’m a little bit disgusted when I see Republicans across the country who are whining more about that advertisement than they are about what the congressional Democrats and other Democrats want to do to the United States of America,” Vance said.
His comments came days after an ad featuring the estranged mother of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton sparked backlash by accusing her of being a liar and claiming she needed help.
“Vivek Ramaswamy had the audacity to run a TV commercial which calls it out like it is and calls Amy Acton a liar,” Vance said.
Vice President JD Vance exits at the conclusion of a campaign rally at the Sharonville Convention Center on October 21, 2026 in Sharonville, Ohio.
More: Ohio’s Amy Acton rips ‘awful’ ad showing estranged mother speaking against her
What did the ad say?
An unaired campaign ad featuring Amy Acton’s estranged mother has become the center of Ohio’s governor’s race controversy. In the clip, Donna Stearns Arthur accuses her daughter of lying about aspects of her upbringing, including claims of homelessness, neglect and abuse, and tells voters that “she can’t help you if she needs help herself.”
The video, posted online by an Ohio political blogger, does not appear to have aired on television, according to Columbus-based ad tracker Medium Buying.
Acton’s campaign says she has been estranged from her mother since 1978, when her stepfather, Cledith Arthur, faced a rape charge involving the then-12-year-old Acton. Records reviewed by USA TODAY support that account.
Acton’s younger brother, Philip Stearns, also condemned the ad, saying in a statement provided by the Acton campaign: “It’s not surprising that Vivek Ramaswamy has stooped to such a despicable low as to attempt to turn the sexual abuse Amy endured at 12 years old from our birth mother’s husband into a political talking point.”
USA TODAY’s Jessie Balmert and Emily R. Condon contributed to this report.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: JD Vance ‘disgusted’ by GOP backlash to Vivek Ramaswamy’s ad
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