Politics · October 23, 2026
Trump continues to back Ramaswamy's attack ad, campaigns in Florida with midterms 11 days away
With 11 days remaining before the midterm elections, President Donald Trump has reaffirmed his support for a controversial attack ad released by Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. The advertisement features Democrat Amy Acton's estranged mother, Donna Arthur, calling her daughter a "liar." While the ad has faced criticism from some Republicans, including Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Trump has defended it as "fair game" and a "very powerful" tool. Concurrently, Trump traveled to Florida to campaign for gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds as polls show a tight race in Ohio, with Cook Political Report labeling it a toss-up.
Read the original coverage
- CBS NewsMBFC: Right-Center
Trump continues to back Ramaswamy
Read at CBS News ↗ - NBC NewsMBFC: Left-Center
Trump doubles down on defending Vivek Ramaswamy’s attack ad against Amy Acton
Read at NBC News ↗ - The Daily CallerMBFC: Right
‘Fair Game’: Trump Weighs In On Ramaswamy’s Controversial Attack Ad
Read at The Daily Caller ↗ President Trump defended an attack ad against Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton that featured her estranged mother, calling it “very powerful”
Read at Wall Street Journal ↗- HuffPostMBFC: Left
Trump Says Ramaswamy Hit
Read at HuffPost ↗ - ABC NewsMBFC: Left-Center
Trump doubles down on Amy Acton criticism as Ramaswamy ad controversy swirls
Read at ABC News ↗
Reported across the spectrum
- President Trump doubled down on his support for Vivek Ramaswamy's attack ad against Amy Acton.
- The ad features Acton’s estranged mother, Donna Arthur, calling her a liar.
- Trump criticized Ohio Governor Mike DeWine for suggesting the ad be pulled.
- Trump campaigned in Florida for gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds.
- The midterms are approximately 11 days away.
- Ramaswamy planned a $4 million ad buy for the spot.
Reported by only some outlets
- Acton has stated she was sexually abused by her stepfather and that her mother chose to stay with him.
- A New York Times/Siena poll showed Acton ahead 49% to 45%, while a co/efficient poll showed Ramaswamy up by two points.
- Ramaswamy’s campaign declined to confirm if they directly funded the spot despite planning the airtime buy.
- Trump referred to an NBC News reporter as a 'horrible little reporter' and 'fresh person' during questioning.
Left-leaning outlets tend to emphasize…
emphasize the widely condemned nature of the ad, focus on the details of Acton's childhood abuse as context for her mother's estrangement, and highlight Trump's hostility toward female reporters.
Right-leaning outlets tend to emphasize…
highlight Trump’s arguments regarding media double standards and his assertion that the ad is 'fair game' while framing the pushback as coming from 'disloyal' party members.
Where coverage diverges
Coverage diverges along left/right lines — see Framing tab for specifics.
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