Ohio’s gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is facing criticism after posting a video on X discussing Amy Acton’s traumatic childhood, which includes sexual abuse she experienced at the hands of a close family member. The Republican encouraged Ohio voters to watch a segment featuring Megyn Kelly, but the post was quick to draw accusations that Ramaswamy was exploiting his opponent’s personal history for political gain.
The controversy comes after Ramaswamy’s campaign produced an advertisement that featured Acton’s estranged mother, who accused her daughter of lying about her past. Rather than shifting attention toward Acton’s credibility, the video prompted a wave of criticism from people questioning whether the Republican candidate had crossed an ethical line.
In a post on X, Ramaswamy shared a clip of Megyn Kelly discussing Acton’s background and urged voters to watch the entire segment. He described the discussion as exposing the truth about his opponent, although the post was subsequently accompanied by a Community Note providing additional context about Acton’s childhood.
The note referenced court records confirming that Acton’s stepfather, Cledith Arthur, was arrested and indicted in 1978 on a charge of raping her when she was a child. Acton and her brother were then removed from their mother’s custody, and her stepfather fled prosecution after failing to appear in court.
The controversy intensified after Ramaswamy’s campaign acknowledged producing a separate advertisement featuring Acton’s estranged mother. According to the Associated Press, the campaign committed $4 million to promoting the advertisement despite criticism from Democrats and some Republicans.
Acton has publicly discussed her childhood experiences, including abuse, neglect, and periods of homelessness, and her brother Philip Stearns has defended her account. Ramaswamy’s campaign maintains that questions about Acton’s credibility are relevant to voters, while critics argue that involving her estranged mother and revisiting documented childhood abuse crosses a line between political scrutiny and personal attacks.
Comments and Reactions to Vivek Ramaswamy’s Amy Acton Video
Several people responding to Ramaswamy’s post condemned his decision to share the video, accusing him of using Acton’s childhood trauma as a campaign weapon, with one person writing, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a political campaign stoop this low. A child was raped. The mother chose the rapist and you’re blaming the child for all of this.“
Similarly, another user wrote, “Vivek thinks he can just finesse every situation because he’s a slick orator & considers himself smarter than the White people of Ohio that he resents & despises. He doesn’t even care that he crossed a line w/ Amy’s estranged mom. He has nothing but contempt for us. NEVER VIVEK.”
As the topic continues to go viral on X, more and more users are leaving their frustrations and opinions behind in the comments section below.
