Nikki Haley Criticizes Vivek Ramaswamy Over Ad Targeting Amy Acton
Win McNamee / Win McNamee/Getty Images Former South Carolina Gov.
Nikki Haley has blasted Vivek Ramaswamy for using the estranged mother of his Democratic opponent in a twisted campaign ad.
Ramaswamy, the Trump-endorsed Republican candidate for Ohio governor, has been widely condemned for featuring Amy Acton’s mother, Donna Arthur, to attack the Democrat as a “liar” who “needs help” in a midterm campaign ad.
Acton has not spoken to her mother for decades.
Arthur lost custody of both her children in the late 1970s while standing by the man she was married to after he was charged with raping his stepdaughter, Acton, when she was 12 years old.
Haley, whose bitter rivalry with Ramaswamy dates back to the 2024 GOP presidential primary, has twisted the knife over the biotech entrepreneur’s vile efforts to win over voters ahead of the Nov.
3 election.
On Monday, Acton’s team released its own campaign ad featuring her brother describing the physical and sexual abuse she suffered as a child at the hands of their stepfather, Cledith Arthur, who has since died.
The clip was shared online by an X account declaring that “Haley and the Haley girls must be laughing their t--s off tonight” at the condemnation Ramaswamy is receiving.
In response, Haley said she was “Not laughing,” but was “just seeing what we tried to tell everyone back then.” “He’s a bad guy,” the 2024 presidential hopeful added.
“It’s a shame he continues to get away with it.” Haley and Ramaswamy frequently clashed on debate stages during the GOP presidential primaries, which Trump did not bother to attend because he was the overwhelming favorite to win the nomination.
During a televised debate in November 2023, Haley called out Ramaswamy after he once again used an opponent’s family member as a line of attack.
Ramaswamy defended joining TikTok, despite concerns about the video-sharing app’s links to China, by noting that Haley’s daughter was also on the platform.
“Leave my daughter out of your voice,” Haley fired back.
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