‘I’m a little bit disgusted’: Vance tells GOP to ‘stop whining’ over Ramaswamy attack ad

WASHINGTON, DC: Vice President JD Vance criticized fellow Republicans for condemning Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy’s controversial attack ad against his Democratic rival, Dr. Amy Acton, saying he was “disgusted” by their response.

Ramaswamy has faced bipartisan criticism over the advertisement, which featured Acton’s birth mother, Donna Arthur, calling her “a liar” and questioning her mental health. The ad prompted backlash from several prominent Republicans, including Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) and former presidential candidate Nikki Haley.

Ramaswamy faces GOP backlash over controversial Amy Acton ad

Ramaswamy’s campaign advertisement prompted criticism across the political spectrum, with Mace calling it “disgusting” and condemning the Republican candidate for targeting Acton.

“The bar is low and somehow Vivek Ramaswamy managed to limbo under the lowest bar of decency in this country,” Mace told CNN.

Husted, who is running for a full Senate term after being appointed to Vance’s former seat, also distanced himself from the advertisement, saying he “would not have run that ad.”

Haley, who clashed with Ramaswamy during the 2024 Republican presidential primary, criticized the candidate over the controversy.

“He’s a bad guy,” she said. “It’s a shame he continues to get away with it.”

She added that the situation was proof of “what we tried to tell everyone back then.”

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, who is running for state auditor, also expressed reservations about the advertisement.

“I will say that, you know, candidates will answer for their own ads, that, you know, I probably wouldn't run an ad like that, but every candidate gets to make their own decision,” LaRose told WSYX-TV in Columbus.

JD Vance tells Republicans to stop criticizing Ramaswamy

Vance defended Ramaswamy while campaigning in Ohio on Wednesday, October 21, criticizing fellow Republicans for focusing on the advertisement rather than the upcoming election.

“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,” Vance told reporters at an event.

“Whether the ad was appropriate or not is not really my concern,” he continued. “I got to be honest that when I see Republicans, people in my party, reacting so strongly, especially elected officials — look, have the opinion you want to have on that ad. If you think it was too tough, say it was too tough. If you think it wasn’t tough enough, say that.”

“But 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,” he added.

Vance's remarks came as Ramaswamy faced growing criticism over the advertisement, with several Republicans publicly questioning his decision to feature Acton's estranged mother in the campaign.

Donald Trump weighs in on Ramaswamy's campaign ad

President Donald Trump said he was unfamiliar with the advertisement but commented on the dispute surrounding Acton and her mother.

“If it was about a Republican, I can guarantee they'd let it go,” Trump said.

He also addressed Arthur's statements about her daughter, saying, “the fact is, I know nothing about it, but I hear the mother went very rogue on the daughter, doesn't have a lot of respect for the daughter, and I think the mother is a witness to things, also. So, who knows?”

“And you'll have to figure that out. It's a very unusual situation to have a mother hate a daughter that much, but I don't think that has anything to do with Vivek,” he continued.

Vance's defense of Ramaswamy underscored the divisions among Republicans over the advertisement as the Ohio gubernatorial contest approached its final stretch.