US President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media as he departs the White House en route to Iowa, in Washington, DC, US, October 22, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
President Donald Trump snapped at reporters as they grilled him over his support for an attack ad in which a Democratic candidate was called a liar by her estranged mother, who had defended the candidate's sexual abuser when she was a child.
Trump made the remarks Thursday outside the White House before leaving for a campaign stop in Iowa. The exchange aired live on Live Now from Fox, the Fox News streaming platform.
The ad, from Acton’s Republican opponent in the Ohio governor’s race, Vivek Ramaswamy, features her estranged mother, Donna Arthur, calling her daughter a liar, the Ohio Capital Journal reported. Court records obtained by the Capital Journal show Acton’s stepfather was charged with sexually abusing her when she was 12.
Records show that the stepfather pleaded not guilty, posted bond and fled, remaining a fugitive until his death in 2004.
Earlier Thursday, Trump wrote on Truth Social that Ramaswamy should “keep it up” after Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R-OH) called on him to take the ad down, NBC News reported. The Ramaswamy campaign is spending $4 million to air the spot.
Outside the White House, a reporter asked Trump, “Amy Acton’s mother has not cared for her in about 50 years, after her stepdad was indicted for raping her. Why should anyone listen to what the mother has to say?”
“All I know is the mother said very bad things about Acton, who I guess is running for governor against Vivek. And all I can say is Vivek is great,” Trump replied.
Another reporter asked whether anything in a campaign ad should be off limits.
“If my mother said that about me, it would be… You would have hit gold,” Trump said.
“Ashley Hinson is campaigning tonight in Iowa. She said that the Ramaswamy ad is absolutely terrible, and it should be taken down. Why are you defending it?” a reporter asked, referring to Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA), a Senate candidate whom Trump has endorsed.
“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,” Trump countered.
“And I told Vivek, I said, well, if it were about you or about… Especially about me, if Mary MacLeod, my mother, Mary MacLeod Trump, said that about me, you’d have it as your number one story,” he added.
A reporter then asked whether he knew about Acton’s sexual abuse allegations against her stepfather.
“Well, I have no idea. I don’t know the mother. I don’t know her,” Trump said.
“If my mother ever made those statements… I have a mother. I had a mother who’s up there right now looking down,” he continued. “Mary MacLeod Trump. If she ever made statements like that about me, you and your fake station would have it front row center. You’d love it.”
“To use her mother is outrageous,” a reporter shot back.
“Wait! The mother made a horrible statement about the daughter. Said she was a dirty liar,” Trump said. “Amy Acton’s mother said horrible things about Amy Acton, and I don’t know why you’re not allowed to do that.”
“Now I’ll say this: The press is ganged up because you hate it, because that one ad should really win,” he said.
“Her mother remained married to her stepfather, who sexually abused her. She was 12 years old,” a reporter pressed.
“When did she make that statement? Was it just recently?” Trump asked.
“It was years ago. He was charged with it,” the reporter replied.
“You know, I have no idea. All I know is Amy Acton’s [mother] said horrible things about Amy Acton, calling her a liar and other things and unreliable. A lot of very bad things,” Trump said.
“And I say that she’s fair game,” he continued. “And I know one thing: If it were my mother, I’d be fair game. And you know that, and you know that well.”