Obama joins Ohio fight, calls Ramaswamy ad an example of 'cruelty' and 'indecency'

Former president rallies for Acton and Brown as the Trump-backed ad becomes a national flashpoint days before the midterms

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published24 October 2026

Updated24 October 2026

Read Time3 min

Sources3 outlets

Former President Barack Obama on Saturday attacked Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign ad targeting Democratic rival Amy Acton, calling it a sign that "there is no line he will not cross" as he rallied Democratic voters in battleground Ohio days before the midterm elections.

Speaking at a rally in Cleveland with Acton and former senator Sherrod Brown, Obama said the ad, which features Acton's estranged birth mother questioning her character, showed a breakdown in standards for public officials.

"In recent days, we've seen there is no line he will not cross, no low he will not sink to," Obama said of Ramaswamy. Noting that Acton has "spoken movingly about her painful childhood and all she's experienced: abuse, neglect and homelessness," he added: "There's a decency we should expect out of our public officials."

The Ramaswamy campaign video features Acton's birth mother, Donna Arthur, calling her "a liar" and insinuating she has mental health issues. Acton, Ohio's COVID-19-era health director, has spoken publicly about facing homelessness and abuse as a child.

Acton, appearing before Obama, addressed Ramaswamy directly. "My opponent has chosen to exploit, intentionally, my childhood to save his stumbling campaign, but it's not going to work," she said. "Decency still matters."

Ramaswamy has defended the ad as fair game. President Donald Trump, voting in West Palm Beach on Saturday, also defended it. "This is a disgrace," Trump said. "The mother said that Amy Acton is a liar and she's no good. And you know what? I don't think you can get a better reference on that." Republican leaders across Ohio, including Governor Mike DeWine, have called for the ad to be removed.

The rally was part of a broader Democratic push in midwestern battlegrounds. Obama was scheduled to campaign in Detroit later Saturday for Abdul El-Sayed, who is running for Senate against former representative Mike Rogers, and will headline a rally in Georgia next week alongside Senator Jon Ossoff and gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms. Trump was set to speak in Georgia on Saturday.

Obama also criticized Trump for not lowering costs, saying the president had instead focused on building a new White House ballroom and helipad. "I don't know if you've noticed, but he seems very focused on home renovation," he quipped. "He should be on HGTV."

Obama acknowledged that Trump remains in office for another two years, but argued voters are not stuck with his allies. "We're not stuck with a spineless Congress and Republican governors who are handling lawlessness and carelessness and cruelty and indifference for working people," he said.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The ad has become a national flashpoint in the final days of the midterms, testing how candidates and parties handle deeply personal attacks.
Obama's appearances in Ohio, Michigan and Georgia are aimed at boosting Democratic turnout in races that will help determine the balance of power in Congress and governorships.
The Ohio race shows how a state that has become more reliably Republican is still being fiercely contested this year.

Background

The midterm elections are days away. Obama, 65, remains a central motivator for the Democratic Party nearly a decade after leaving the White House. Ohio has a competitive Senate race between Sherrod Brown and Republican Jon Husted, and a governor's race between Amy Acton and Vivek Ramaswamy. Trump and Vice President JD Vance have both visited the state in recent weeks. Michigan also has open races for governor, attorney general and secretary of state.

Key Perspectives

Barack Obama: Says the Ramaswamy ad shows "there is no line he will not cross" and that voters should expect decency from public officials.
Amy Acton: Says her opponent is intentionally exploiting her childhood to save a "stumbling campaign," and that "decency still matters."
Vivek Ramaswamy: Defends the ad as fair game.
Donald Trump: Calls criticism of the ad "a disgrace" and says the mother's words are a strong reference against Acton.
Mike DeWine and other Ohio Republicans: Have called for the ad to be removed.

What to Watch

Whether the controversy over the ad shifts support in the Ohio governor's race in the final days.
Whether Obama's appearances in Detroit and Georgia lift turnout, particularly among Black voters, in tight contests.
The midterm results next week, which will decide the balance of power in the Senate and statehouses.

Sources

Checked

8 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 6 supported.

Show each claim

Partly supportedObama called Ramaswamy’s ad an example of “cruelty” and “indecency.”US Top News and Analysis: “Former President Barack Obama on Saturday seized on what he described as cruelty and indecency coming from President Donald Trump and his Republican allies”
Not in the sourcesThe ad was Trump-backed.US Top News and Analysis: “Trump aggressively defended the ad, which has become a national flashpoint in the final days of the midterms”
SupportedObama said of Ramaswamy, “In recent days, we’ve seen there is no line he will not cross, no low he will not sink to.”US Top News and Analysis: ““In recent days, we’ve seen there is no line he will not cross, no low he will not sink to,” Obama said of Ramaswamy”
SupportedThe Ramaswamy campaign video features Acton’s birth mother, Donna Arthur, calling her “a liar” and insinuating she has mental health issues.US Top News and Analysis: “The Ramaswamy campaign video features Acton’s birth mother, Donna Arthur, calling her “a liar” and insinuating she has mental health issues.”
SupportedActon said, “My opponent has chosen to exploit, intentionally, my childhood to save his stumbling campaign, but it’s not going to work,” and “Decency still matters.”US Top News and Analysis: ““My opponent has chosen to exploit, intentionally, my childhood to save his stumbling campaign, but it’s not going to work,” she said. “Decency still matters.””
SupportedTrump defended the ad while voting in West Palm Beach on Saturday and said, “This is a disgrace,” followed by his comment that Acton’s mother called her a liar and “no good.”US Top News and Analysis: “Trump aggressively defended the ad, which has become a national flashpoint in the final days of the midterms, as he voted in West Palm Beach on Saturday. “This is a disgrace,” Trump said. “The mother said that Amy Acton is a liar and she’s no good.””
SupportedRepublican leaders across Ohio, including Governor Mike DeWine, called for the ad to be removed.US Top News and Analysis: “Trump and Vice President JD Vance have also defended the ad, even as Republican leaders across Ohio, including Gov. Mike DeWine, have called for its removal.”
SupportedThe ad became a national flashpoint in the days before the midterms.US Top News and Analysis: “Trump aggressively defended the ad, which has become a national flashpoint in the final days of the midterms”