Trump says he defends the Acton ad because the press would love it if it were about his mother
Donald TrumpPresident of the United States
President Trump answers reporters' questions about the Ramaswamy ad featuring Amy Acton's mother on the White House South Lawn, Oct. 22, 2026.
Excerpt from 0:00 to 1:59 of the White House video. DI added its logo in the corner.
Video: The White House. Public domain (U.S. government work) (opens in a new tab)
Watch the full original video (opens in a new tab) (relevant passage: Questions about the Acton ad and Trump's answers, 0:00-1:59 (audio transcribed by us))
Asked on the White House South Lawn why he was defending the ad, Trump says the press would love it if an ad like it were about his own mother.
“I'm defending it because I know that if that ad were about my mother, you would love it. You would love every inch of it.”
Original video
Reporting
Where this statement fits
Ramaswamy's campaign defends using Amy Acton's estranged mother in an attack ad
Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign produced an advertisement in which Amy Acton's estranged mother accuses her of lying. Acton says Ramaswamy took advantage of her mother, and the campaign defends its attack on Acton's credibility. Critics from both parties condemn the tactic, while Laura Loomer defends it.
Source and context
Original video
About this source
The White House's own recording of Trump's exchange with reporters on the South Lawn before he left for Iowa on October 22, 2026. The first questions concern the Ramaswamy ad featuring Amy Acton's mother. The quoted wording is our transcription of the audio and matches CBS News's account.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Watch the clip from this source at the top of the page.
Reporting
About this source
CBS News reports Trump's Truth Social post, his South Lawn remarks to reporters, including CBS's Weijia Jiang, and his remarks at an Iowa rally that night, along with DeWine's call to take the ad down.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
A reporter asked why anyone should listen to Acton's mother, given that Acton's stepfather had been charged with raping her. Trump said he knew nothing about it and that Vivek is great. A reporter then asked why he was defending the ad.
After the quotation
Trump added that the press had teamed up against Ramaswamy because he is a Republican. At a rally in Iowa that night, he said he had told Ramaswamy to leave the ad up, CBS News reported.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Trump says he is defending the ad and argues that the press would welcome it if his mother had said such things about him. That defends the campaign's use of Acton's mother in the ad.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- Vivek Ramaswamy
More from this case
Read the full caseTrump says he told Ramaswamy to keep the Acton ad up
“I suggested, on the other hand, that Vivek should keep it up, and let everyone listen to the mother of a defective, dishonest, and incapable Candidate, explain how the daughter is a DISASTER who, uncontrollably, lies, cheats, and steals!”Read statement
John Kasich says the ad featuring Acton's mother should be taken off the air
“It’s completely inappropriate and has no place in American politics. It should be taken off the air, and those responsible should apologize.”Read statement
Connie Luck responds to DeWine by saying Acton attacked Ramaswamy's mother first
“Governor DeWine is correct that the first and only candidate to attack the mother of her opponent in this race was Amy Acton”Read statement
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The Dispute Index. "Trump says he defends the Acton ad because the press would love it if it were about his mother". First published: 2026-10-23. Last updated: 2026-10-23. https://disputeindex.com/events/6561-asked-on-the-white-house-south-lawn-why