NEW: Vivek Ramaswamy says Amy Acton being a victim of childhood sexual abuse makes her “flawed” while defending his ad featuring her estranged mother. “In politics sometimes it's a tough sport.”

President Trump on Thursday praised the "very powerful ad" Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is running featuring the estranged mother of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton. The president criticized Gov. Mike DeWine (R-OH) for calling for the ad to be taken down. Trump posted on Truth Social that he suggested Ramaswamy keep the ad up, saying the press is "trying to convince everyone that this Ad is bad, because it's so good!" The ad, which first circulated on social media on Monday and is now television, features Acton's estranged mother, Donna Arthur, who called Acton a "liar" and sought to undermine her credibility. Acton's campaign condemned the ad, and her brother, Philip Stearns, called it a "despicable low." According to court documents provided by the campaign, Arthur's now-deceased husband was charged with raping Acton, when she was between 10 and 12 years old. He entered a not guilty plea and left the area while out on bond; the case never went to trial.

JD Vance: "I've not seen a single shred of evidence that Donald Trump participates or sanctions in that corruption ... I've not once seen evidence that Donald Trump has enriched himself"

Reporter: You said Russia and Ukraine agreed to a ceasefire but both sides say they have not. Trump: They agree. You know why? Because I said you agree. That’s why. They agreed because I said they agreed.