Iowa Republican Candidate Hinson Condemns Ramaswamy Ad, Putting Her at Odds With Trump

Iowa Republican Senate candidate Representative Ashley Hinson on Thursday strongly condemned Republican Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy for his controversial campaign ad featuring the estranged mother of Democratic opponent Amy Acton.

Hinson's stance put her at odds with President Donald Trump, who defended the ad, just hours before she was to appear with him at a rally in Iowa on Thursday.

In the ad, Acton's mother, Donna Arthur, says she loves her daughter but that Amy has a serious problem and has lied about her past and her struggles growing up.

Acton has spoken openly about her tumultuous relationship with her mother, whom she says she has not spoken to since she was 12 years old. She alleged her mother's second husband molested her between the ages of 9 and 12.

Charges were filed against her stepfather and Acton testified against him.

In an exclusive interview with ABC News' Jonathan Karl for ‘This Week’ to air Sunday, Hinson blasted the decision to release the ad.

She said it was terrible, that as a mother she thought about children surviving childhood sexual abuse having to relive that trauma on television again, and that the ad should be taken down.

Hinson also had harsh words for Vice President JD Vance, who defended Ramaswamy on Wednesday and said he was disgusted seeing Republicans across the country whining about the ad. Hinson said Vance's comments were ridiculous, absolutely the wrong tone, and sent absolutely the wrong message.

She said Iowans — and probably Ohioans — wanted someone who would be an empathetic leader. She added that she and Amy Acton probably did not agree on anything, but the last thing she would want as an opponent was to force someone to relive childhood trauma, and that the ad was wrong and should come down.

Hinson, who is 43, is one of the most high-profile Republican women running for office this year. If she wins in November, she would become the youngest female Republican senator in the United States Senate.

Trump, who endorsed Hinson before Iowa's Republican primary, defended Ramaswamy's ad in a social media post earlier Thursday and said Ramaswamy should keep it up. He wrote that anyone would use such an ad, that he would himself, calling it hitting paydirt.

Leaving the White House for Iowa on Thursday afternoon, Trump was asked about Hinson's comments. He said that was her opinion, adding that this was a mother saying very bad things about her daughter and he did not know why that should be shielded.

Trump also criticized Ohio Governor Mike DeWine in his post. DeWine had called the ad deeply, deeply troubling and called for Ramaswamy to take it down. Trump said DeWine probably wanted a Democrat to win.

Hinson was set to appear alongside Trump at a campaign rally in Sioux City, Iowa, on Thursday evening, the first of two final midterm rallies he is holding in the Hawkeye State to boost Republican candidates down the ballot.

The ad, which circulated on social media late Monday, came two weeks out from high-stakes midterm elections in which Ohio will elect a new governor and vote in Senate and House races that could determine the balance of power in the next Congress. At a campaign event on Wednesday, Acton called the ad horrible and hideous. Trump won Iowa's last three presidential elections, but his approval ratings have sunk as voters grow weary over rising grocery and fuel prices.