President Donald Trump on Friday continued to defend a highly controversial ad<\/a> from Ohio GOP gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy featuring his Democratic opponent Amy Acton’s estranged mother — who Acton says stood by the man who was criminally charged with sexually abusing her as a child.<\/p>\n As he left the White House Friday morning, Trump repeatedly dismissed questions from reporters about the specific allegations of Acton’s sexual abuse, asserting at multiple points that the ad has “nothing to do” with Acton’s stepfather, who was criminally charged and pleaded not guilty.<\/p>\n Her stepfather, who died in 2004, fled the state with her mother before trial and never appeared before a judge, according to court records and an interview given by Acton’s mother.<\/p>\n President Donald Trump speaks with reporters before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, Oct. 23, 2026, in Washington.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Julia Demaree Nikhinson\/AP Photo<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n “It’s a mother speaking badly against Amy Acton. And, to me, it’s very easy,” Trump said when asked about the ad, which features Acton’s mother, Donna Arthur, saying that her daughter has lied about her past and her struggles growing up.<\/p>\n Acton has been public about her experience with abuse and openly spoken about her tumultuous relationship with her mother, whom she says she has not spoken to since she was 12 years old. Acton alleged her mother’s second husband molested her between the ages of 9 and 12.<\/p>\n Pressed on the fact that Acton has been estranged from her mother for decades, Trump said he did not care and insisted that the ad was fair game.<\/p>\n \u201cI don’t care,\u201d\u00a0Trump said. \u201cIf it were my mother speaking badly about me, you’d be making it the number one story on the news.”<\/p>\n Trump also referred to Acton\u2019s mother as a “smart woman” and said that he did not “know anything about” the stepfather.<\/p>\n \u201cThis has nothing to do with a stepfather or anything else,” Trump said.\u00a0“This has to do with the fact that a woman got out, the mother of a person running for governor of one of the greatest states, where I set records and said that she’s a liar.”<\/p>\n![\"Alex\"](\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/a316190e-6822-43e8-88a4-99df33ad4f5f\/donald-trump-13-ap-gmh-261023_1792770044754_hpMain.jpg?w=375 "\\"Alex\\"")
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![\"Alex](\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/fcea793a-decc-4054-8a37-05d6b00431ab\/donald-trump-6-ap-gmh-261023_1792760798662_hpMain.jpg?w=375 "\\"Alex")
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