Trump doubles down on anti-Acton ad in Ohio: ‘Vivek should keep it up’

President Trump defended Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy’s ad featuring his Democratic opponent Amy Acton’s estranged mother on Thursday, saying the Republican “should keep it up.”

In a lengthy Truth Social post , Trump hit Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) over his calls for Ramaswamy to take down the ad earlier Thursday. In the video, Acton’s mother suggests her daughter has mental health issues.

“Our RINO Governor of Ohio, Mike DeWine, who I unfortunately helped get elected years ago, when he was losing by 16 points prior to my doing a Rally for him was, as usual, disloyal to the Republican Party,” Trump wrote.

“He strongly suggested that Vivek should, ‘take down the Ad.’ He probably wants a Dumocrat to win, and certainly doesn’t want someone who will do a much better job than he is capable of doing. I suggested, on the other hand, that Vivek should keep it up,” he continued.

Acton’s brother released a statement after the ad aired stating that he and his sister have been estranged from their mother since Acton was 12 because their mother stayed married to the man who sexually abused Acton at a young age.

Trump’s comments come as many Ohio Republicans have condemned the ad . Sen. Jon Husted (R), who is facing a tough reelection bid in the state, has sought to distance himself from the ad. The incumbent senator said in a statement to The Associated Press on Wednesday that he would not have run the ad.

Trump, meanwhile, defended Acton’s mother in the Thursday social media post, saying she was courageous for participating in the ad.

“That took a lot of courage to do but, essentially, what she was really doing was saving Ohio from making a truly horrible choice! The Press is trying to convince everyone that this Ad is bad, because it’s so good! Who wouldn’t use such an Ad? I would, it’s called, ‘hitting pay dirt,’” the president said. “The fact is, Lyin’ Amy Acton, who I’ve never even heard of before, has been lying about Vivek for the entire Campaign.”

Trump’s comments on the matter are similar to those from Vice President Vance, who told reporters on Wednesday that he was “disgusted” by the Republican criticism of the ad.

“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 told reporters.