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Vice President JD Vance publicly criticized fellow Republicans on Wednesday over a controversial campaign advertisement. Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy released the ad targeting Democratic opponent Amy Acton.
The advertisement features Acton’s estranged mother calling her daughter a “liar.” She also urges Ohio voters to reject Acton in the upcoming election.
Speaking to reporters in Cincinnati, Vance defended the campaign’s approach.
“Politics is a tough business, and my message to my fellow elected Republicans is if you actually believe in the things you say you believe in, stop whining about an advertisement and go win the race in 13 days,” he said.
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Controversial Ohio Campaign Ad Sparks Bipartisan Criticism
Ramaswamy’s campaign released the advertisement Tuesday, immediately triggering criticism from both parties.
The controversy emerged during the final stretch of Ohio’s competitive gubernatorial race.
Republican Senator Jon Husted, who seeks a full Senate term, also criticized the campaign’s decision.
He said he “would not have run that ad.”
The advertisement highlights deeply personal details from Acton’s childhood.
Acton previously disclosed that her mother’s husband sexually abused her when she was a child.
Her brother, Philip Stearns, confirmed another troubling detail Tuesday.
Their “birth mother stayed married to Amy’s rapist until he died,” Stearns said.
Furthermore, Acton discussed her estrangement from her mother during a 2019 interview with The Youngstown Vindicator.
She said she had not seen her mother since a 1978 court hearing involving her stepfather.
Conservative commentator Meghan McCain also condemned the advertisement on X.
She called it “dastardly” and argued that it “never should have been created.”
Meanwhile, Dan Hauser, an aide to Utah Senator Mike Lee, deleted a post sharing the video.
Hauser later apologized and explained that he removed it “after researching it, and the disturbing allegations.”
JD Vance Rejects Criticism and Supports Ramaswamy
Despite the growing backlash, Vance dismissed concerns about the advertisement.
He told reporters that “whether the ad was appropriate or not is not really my concern.”
Instead, the vice president emphasized the importance of winning elections.
He also criticized Republicans who focused on the advertisement rather than Democratic policies.
“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.
Later Wednesday, Vance revisited the controversy during an Ohio campaign rally.
He acknowledged that he “wasn’t even supposed to talk about” the issue.
However, he quickly added, “but I cannot help myself.”
Vance again defended Ramaswamy and urged supporters to prioritize political issues over the advertisement.
Moreover, the two Republicans maintain close political connections.
NBC News previously reported that several Ramaswamy campaign staffers had worked for Vance’s political operation.
Amy Acton’s Brother Condemns the Advertisement
Acton’s brother, Philip Stearns, strongly criticized Ramaswamy’s campaign Tuesday.
He accused the Republican candidate of exploiting his sister’s childhood trauma for political advantage.
“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,” Stearns said.
Stearns also described the circumstances surrounding their childhood.
Authorities removed both siblings from their mother and stepfather’s custody following their stepfather’s arrest.
Meanwhile, reporters attempted to contact Acton’s mother, Donna Arthur, on Tuesday.
However, their phone calls and emails received no response.
Ramaswamy Campaign Plans $4 Million Advertising Push
Despite criticism from Republicans and Democrats, Ramaswamy’s campaign plans to continue promoting the advertisement.
The campaign is preparing a $4 million statewide advertising effort centered on the controversial message.
Consequently, the dispute could remain a major campaign issue during the election’s final days.
The strategy also signals Ramaswamy’s willingness to maintain pressure on Acton despite the backlash.
