Trump asks why Acton's mother's words are Ramaswamy's problem
Donald TrumpPresident of the United States, at a campaign rally in Chillicothe, Ohio
At a rally in Chillicothe, Ohio, with Ramaswamy and Sen. Jon Husted, Trump said the ad only conveyed what Acton's mother said about her and asked why that was Ramaswamy's problem. He called the criticism of Ramaswamy very unfair.
“The mother said that Amy Acton, the daughter, is a liar, that she's no good, that she lied about the opponent. How the hell is that his problem?”
Reporting
Other statements by Donald Trump in this case
- Trump says he defends the Acton ad because the press would love it if it were about his motherEarlier: Defended or excused
- Trump says he told Ramaswamy to keep the Acton ad upEarlier: Defended or excused
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
Reporting
About this source
The Independent's report on Donald Trump's remarks about the Ramaswamy ad at an October 28, 2026 rally in Chillicothe, Ohio, for Vivek Ramaswamy and Sen. Jon Husted.
Before the quotation
Trump told the crowd that Ramaswamy had the mother of his opponent call her daughter a liar, and joked that he wished he had an opponent like that. He said the press would win prizes if his own mother had said such things about him.
After the quotation
He called the treatment of Ramaswamy very unfair and said the reaction would have been different if Ramaswamy were a Democrat.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The matter under scrutiny is the campaign's use of Acton's estranged mother in the ad. Trump argues that Ramaswamy bears no fault for what the mother said and calls the criticism unfair, which defends the ad, as in his October 22 statements.
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More from this case
Read the full caseGraham says Ramaswamy's "Relax" ad dismisses objections to the earlier ad
“Deploying the word "relax" in response to objections to Ramaswamy's exploitation of a child's rape diminishes the horrors that Acton endured and has carried as a survivor.”Read statement
Acton calls the ad "absolutely despicable" after it leaves the air
“There is no bar too low apparently for my opponent, he will say and do anything. ... I think it was absolutely despicable to do this. I really hope everyone is held accountable for their behavior in this.”Read statement
Acton's campaign says Ramaswamy pulled the ad without an apology
“Vivek Ramaswamy should never have run his despicable ad in the first place, and it's totally unsurprising that he took it off the air in the most cowardly way possible, without even the hint of an apology to Dr. Acton, her family, or to the people of Ohio”Read statement
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- Trump asks why Acton's mother's words are Ramaswamy's problem
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The Dispute Index. "Trump asks why Acton's mother's words are Ramaswamy's problem". First published: 2026-10-31. Last updated: 2026-10-31. https://disputeindex.com/events/7448-at-a-rally-in-chillicothe-ohio-with-ramaswamy