JD Vance defends Vivek Ramaswamy ad, calls GOP critics whining

Vance told reporters the ad is a political tactic, not a personal issue, as the campaign heads into Ohio’s gubernatorial race.

By Felo News Desk · Published Wed, 21 Oct 2026 23:16:26 GMT

Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday defended Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy’s controversial ad and said he was “disgusted” by Republicans who were “whining” about it, according to both the New York Post and The Independent.

What happened

The 60‑second television spot, released about two weeks before Ohio’s November 5 election, features Donna Arthur – the birth mother of Democratic candidate Dr. Amy Acton – calling her daughter a “liar” and questioning her mental health. The ad was aired across the state on Tuesday and quickly drew criticism from both parties.

What the reports add

The New York Post noted the ad also references allegations that Acton’s stepfather sexually abused her as a child, and that Rep. Nancy Mace (R‑SC) called the ad “disgusting,” adding, “The bar is low and somehow Vivek Ramaswamy managed to limbo under the lowest bar of decency in this country.”
Sen. Jon Husted (R‑Ohio) said he “would not have run that ad.”
President Trump remarked, “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,” when asked about the spot.
The Independent reported Vance said the ad’s appropriateness was “not really my concern,” emphasizing his focus on helping Republican candidates win midterm contests.
Ramaswamy pledged to spend $4 million promoting the ad, a figure also confirmed in Felo’s earlier coverage of a heckler incident (see earlier coverage).

What was said

“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 in Cincinnati, per the New York Post.

“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 want to do to the United States of America,” Vance said at the Sharonville Convention Center, per The Independent.

“Whether the ad was appropriate or not is not really my concern,” Vance added, as quoted by the New York Post.

“Acton lies about every single one of her positions,” Vance told reporters, also reported by The Independent.

How it came about

Ramaswamy’s campaign confirmed producing the ad, which features Arthur’s criticism of Acton, and said it would spend $4 million promoting the spot. The ad’s release follows a heated campaign environment in Ohio, including a recent incident where Ramaswamy was confronted by a heckler over the same ad (see Felo’s earlier coverage). Vance’s comments echo his earlier messaging urging Republicans not to gripe over issues like gas prices (see Felo’s Oct. 2 story).

Key facts

Vice President JD Vance defended Vivek Ramaswamy’s Ohio ad and called GOP critics whining. (independent.co.uk)
The ad features Donna Arthur, Amy Acton’s birth mother, calling Acton a liar and questioning her mental health. (independent.co.uk)
The ad was released about two weeks before Ohio’s November 5 gubernatorial election. (independent.co.uk)
Ramaswamy’s campaign confirmed producing the ad and planned to spend $4 million promoting it. (nypost.com)
Rep. Nancy Mace called the ad “disgusting,” according to the New York Post. (nypost.com)