What They’re Saying: Vivek Ramaswamy “Talked Himself Into a Mess He Can’t Erase” Mocking Childhood Sexual Abuse Survivors

What They're Saying: Vivek Ramaswamy "Talked Himself Into a Mess He Can't Erase" Mocking Childhood Sexual Abuse Survivors

April 17, 2026

Columbus, Ohio- Earlier this week at a campaign event, Vivek Ramaswamy hit a new low in his desperate campaign when he minimized the sexual abuse his opponent Dr. Amy Acton survived as a child. Ramaswamy said Acton can only "complain about what someone else did to her."

What they're saying in the press:

WVXU: Analysis: Ramaswamy seems to criticize Acton for being a victim of child sex abuse

• Vivek Ramaswamy, the Republican candidate for Ohio governor, has had to walk back or try to explain away any number of controversial positions that would likely have not sat well with Ohio voters. It's a pretty long list.
• On and on it goes. It is as if he had one of those Etch A Sketch toys we had as kids. Draw a picture on the screen and when you want it to go away, you just pick it up and shake it - or in his case, delete the post.
• "He would seem to be all hat and no cattle, but the hat keeps slipping off his head," said David Niven, professor of political science at the University of Cincinnati. "You would think that if you are going to tie yourself to controversial issues, you would at least make them issues that are popular," Niven said.
• But this time, Ramaswamy has talked himself into a mess he can't erase. He went after the Democratic candidate for governor, former Ohio Health Department director Amy Acton, for being the victim of sexual abuse as child growing up in Youngstown.
• Neither Ramaswamy nor his campaign staff responded to WVXU's request for comment.

TiffinOhio.net: Vivek Ramaswamy mocks Amy Acton for being a childhood sex abuse survivor

• Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy posted a video to his X account on Tuesday in which he dismissed Democratic opponent Dr. Amy Acton as having no vision "other than complain about what someone else did to her."
• The Acton campaign's statement pointed to what it called a consistent pattern of Ramaswamy ignoring sexual abuse. The campaign noted that Ramaswamy refused for months to call for the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, accepted $100,000 from an Epstein associate accused of having sex with underage girls and never returned the money, and promoted the endorsement of state Rep. Rodney Creech (R-West Alexandria), who was accused of climbing into bed with a minor female relative while erect and wearing only his underwear, according to Bureau of Criminal Investigation documents.
• Ramaswamy's campaign quietly removed Creech from its endorsements page earlier this month after TiffinOhio.net reported on the allegations. Creech's name had appeared on the page for more than a year.

Columbus Dispatch: Ohio governor race between Ramaswamy, Acton turns ugly

• Republican Vivek Ramaswamy said Democrat Amy Acton has no vision for the state "other than to complain about what someone else did to her." Ramaswamy posted the remark to his X account on April 14.

The Nerd Stash: Ohio Disgusted by Ramaswamy's Attack on Amy Acton's Childhood Abuse: 'This Should End a Campaign'

• Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is facing intense backlash across Ohio after posting a video that critics say mocks Democratic opponent Dr. Amy Acton's history as a childhood sexual abuse survivor.
• In the clip, Ramaswamy claimed Acton offers no real vision for the state "other than to complain about what someone else did to her." The remark came just one day after Acton's campaign condemned Ramaswamy's allies for resurfacing and weaponizing her documented history of abuse.

WGTC: Vivek Ramaswamy slams Democratic opponent for going public about being sexually abused as child, 'one of the most disgusting attacks I've ever seen'

• Vivek Ramaswamy has ambitions of being the next Governor of Ohio, and if this clip is any indication, he's willing to stoop to unimaginable levels to get the job. Ramaswamy's opponent is Democrat Dr. Amy Acton, the former Ohio Health Director, and the Nov. 3 election is shaping up to be a closely run race.
• In interviews, Acton has said that one of her motivations for public service is surviving childhood sexual abuse, explaining that overcoming this and focusing on helping other victims is an important part of her personal journey. But for Ramaswamy, it's apparently a reason to attack her.
• As you might imagine, the reaction from regular people is a combination of horror and anger.

What they're saying online:

@HQNewsNow: Ohio Gov. candidate Vivek Ramaswamy claims that his opponent Amy Acton is running on "complaining about what someone else did to her," referring to Acton sharing the story of sexual abuse as a child.

@MikeNellis: Vivek Ramaswamy mocking his Democratic opponent, Amy Acton, for being sexually abused as a child is one of the most disgusting attacks I've ever seen from a politician.

@HeartlandSignal: Ohio GOP gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy says Democrat Dr. Amy Acton's campaign is about "complaining about what someone else did to her." Acton survived sexual abuse as a child.

@Couriernewsroom: Dr. Amy Acton (D-OH) has been open about experiencing SA as a child.Vivek Ramaswamy (R-OH) has refused to call for the release of the Epstein files for months, took $100,000 from an Epstein associate accused of having sex with underage girls and never gave it back, and touts the endorsement of a state rep accused of sexually abusing a minor.

@Nowthisimpact: No one should ever have to deal with someone talking about their trauma so callously. And yet, there are Republicans like Ramaswamy.

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