President Trump engaged in a heated exchange with NBC News correspondent Monica Alba on Friday, doubling down on his defense of a controversial attack ad in the Ohio governor's race. The ad, funded by Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, features the estranged mother of Democratic nominee Amy Acton calling her a "liar" and questioning her mental fitness.
During a press availability, reporters pressed Trump on the ad, which has drawn criticism from some fellow Republicans. Trump dismissed the backlash, arguing that a mother's warning about her own daughter is fair game. "But they don't know the facts," Trump said. "Look… a mother is saying, 'Don't put my daughter there because she's a terrible person and she's a liar.' Why shouldn't somebody use that?"
Ramaswamy has confirmed his campaign funded the ad, which uses audio from Donna Arthur, Acton's mother, who has been estranged from her daughter for years. Acton has said she was sexually abused by her stepfather as a child and that her mother remained with him after he was charged. Court documents support her account.
Alba pushed back, asking whether the sexual abuse allegations meant nothing to the president. Trump told her to slow down, asked which outlet she represented, and then launched into a broad attack on NBC News, calling Alba a "fresh person [and] horrible little reporter."
Trump then pivoted to hypotheticals, suggesting Democrats would use similar material if roles were reversed. "If my mother said bad things about me, do you think the Democrats would put it up? I think so," he said. "But my mother thought I was wonderful."
He continued to defend the ad, describing Acton's mother as a "smart woman" who felt obligated to speak out. "Her daughter is a liar, and she felt that she had an obligation," Trump said. "If I had that ad, I should be so lucky to have an ad like that. Why wouldn't you listen to a mother that says that?"
Alba attempted to inform Trump about the stepfather's history, but the president cut her off, saying, "I don't know anything about a stepfather," and then, "You just keep talking." When Alba replied, "I'm just answering you, sir," Trump repeated his denial of knowledge about the stepfather.
Acton has called the ad "despicable," telling CBS affiliate WBNS, "A sad thing, and I feel like it was an exploitative thing to do. My mother is not well." Ramaswamy, meanwhile, has argued that the claims are not new, saying, "Her mother has spoken out for years, and I don't know Amy Acton's mother and I've never met Amy Acton either. What I do know is that Amy Acton has been repeatedly and serially dishonest during this campaign."
The race remains tight, with Decision Desk HQ, NewsNation's election partner, giving Acton a 60 percent chance of winning as of Wednesday, compared with 40 percent for Ramaswamy. Last month, the race was nearly a coin flip.
Trump's defense of the ad has further inflamed tensions within the Ohio GOP, as some Republican figures have distanced themselves from the attack. The president's endorsement of Ramaswamy's ad has escalated an intra-party feud that could have implications for the general election.
Trump's comments also come amid his broader midterm push, where he has been striking bargains on policy and messaging to boost Republican candidates. His defense of the ad aligns with his long-standing belief that attack ads are effective, as he suggested voters deserve to see such material.
The exchange with Alba is the latest example of Trump's combative relationship with the press, which he has frequently criticized as biased. He has previously defended the ad, arguing that voters should hear from those who know the candidate best.
