During a campaign rally in Sioux City, Iowa, former President Donald Trump expressed support for a controversial political advertisement used by Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. The advertisement features the mother of Ramaswamy’s Democratic opponent, Amy Acton, making negative comments about her daughter and labeling her a "liar."

Trump addressed the ad directly, asking his supporters, "Why would you shield somebody from that?" The former president noted that Ramaswamy had reached out to him regarding the campaign strategy. The ad has become a point of contention in the race, as it utilizes a family member to attack a candidate's character. While Trump framed the usage of the footage as a legitimate political tactic, the incident highlights the increasingly aggressive nature of the campaign, where personal family dynamics are being leveraged for political gain. The Hill reports that Trump’s endorsement of the tactic serves to amplify the reach of the ad, though the report does not provide a response from the Acton campaign or details regarding the specific context of the mother's statements.