Peter Meijer
Role at the time: Former U.S. representative from Michigan
Condemned
Statement summary
Meijer calls the ad morally wrong and politically unwise, saying he sees no defense of it.
“No, I think it's a gross ad on a moral level and wrong. On a political level, I don't know how you can argue that this was smart. And to have the closing message of your opponent, you know, framed in such a way I just, I don't see a defense of it.”
Read the original text (opens in a new tab)CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip: October 21, 2026 · CNNOpening discussion, 22:00-22:10 ET
CNN rush transcript of a panel discussion of the Acton advertisement and Vance's defense of it. Rush transcripts may be revised.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Why we used this label
Meijer explicitly rejects the ad on moral and political grounds.