Trump swears he 'knows nothing' about brutal mother attack ad in Ohio... then drags his own mom into the fight

Republican gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign has released a controversial ad featuring the estranged mother of his Democratic opponent, Amy Acton. The ad portrays Acton’s birth mother, Donna Arthur, as a liar who remained married to her husband despite allegations that he sexually abused Acton when she was a child. This revelation and subsequent airing of the ad have drawn bipartisan criticism, with several Ohio Republicans urging Ramaswamy to remove it due to its divisive nature.

Acton’s brother stated in a video released by her campaign that their birth mother stayed married to Amy's rapist until his death. Acton herself has been estranged from her mother since she was 12 years old and removed from custody after alleging abuse by her stepfather, who was later indicted for raping Acton.

President Donald Trump defended the ad during a press conference, arguing that similar criticism would not have arisen if it had featured his own mother. Ramaswamy's campaign plans to spend $4 million promoting this controversial ad in the final days before the November 3 midterms, despite widespread condemnation from both Democrats and some Republicans.

The ad has significantly polarized Ohio’s political landscape, with many viewing it as a desperate attempt by Ramaswamy to gain an advantage over Acton amid tight polls. This move has also led to increased scrutiny of Ramaswamy's campaign strategies and ethical standards in the closing weeks of the election.