Trump to rally in Florida after stoking Ramaswamy publicity fury – US politics live | 2026 US midterm elections
Trump to rally in Florida amid growing outcry over Ramaswamy attack publicity
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of American politics. Donald Trump visits Florida today to speak at another rally as midterm election day approaches.
The president will seek a candidate for governor Byron Donalds. It remains to be seen whether Donalds considers this useful after having removed mentions of the president from its website and barely mentioned his name during the gubernatorial race.
My colleague Richard Luscombe has more on this race:
Last night, Trump stirred up further controversy surrounding an attack ad by Vivek Ramaswamyfeaturing the mother of his Democratic rival, Dr Amy Acton — telling supporters at a rally that he personally told the Republican candidate for Ohio governor to continue running the office.
Acton’s mother lost custody of her daughter when she was 12 because her husband was accused of raping the young girl. Trump said at the Iowa rally: “I said, ‘You’ve got to roll with it.’ »
Trump appears increasingly out of step with his own party over the ad after another Republican denounced the ad Thursday. Republican candidate for Iowa Senate Ashley Hinson broke with the president in denouncing the offensive ad, saying, “I think it’s absolutely terrible, and I think they should take the ad down.” »
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The president will seek a candidate for governor Byron Donalds. It remains to be seen whether Donalds considers this useful after having removed mentions of the president from its website and barely mentioned his name during the gubernatorial race.
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My colleague Richard Luscombe has more on this race:
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Last night, Trump stirred up further controversy surrounding an attack ad by Vivek Ramaswamyfeaturing the mother of his Democratic rival, Dr Amy Acton — telling supporters at a rally that he personally told the Republican candidate for Ohio governor to continue running the office.
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Acton’s mother lost custody of her daughter when she was 12 because her husband was accused of raping the young girl. Trump said at the Iowa rally: “I said, ‘You’ve got to roll with it.’ »
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Trump appears increasingly out of step with his own party over the ad after another Republican denounced the ad Thursday. Republican candidate for Iowa Senate Ashley Hinson broke with the president in denouncing the offensive ad, saying, “I think it’s absolutely terrible, and I think they should take the ad down.” »
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Key events
George Chidi
Americans heading to the polls for next month’s midterm elections aren’t just choosing who to send to Washington or their state capitals. There are also 145 statewide measures on the ballot in 39 states, asking voters about actions ranging from a new wealth tax on California billionaires to requiring Alabama public schools to broadcast or perform the first verse of the national anthem every week.
Voters in Idaho, Nevada and Virginia urged to protect abortion rights; Missouri voters are being asked to restore these rights. Property tax questions appear on dozens of state ballots. Several state referendums ask voters to ban trans athletes from participating in women’s sports or ban gender-affirming medical care for minors.
Voters in principle like referendums as a tool of direct democracy. “Polls in every state show at least 2-to-1 support for an initiative process,” said John Matsusaka, a business professor at the University of Southern California (USC) and executive director of the Initiative and Referendum Institute.
Here are the major issues that voters are invited to decide this year:
Ashley Hinson’s criticism of the ad came after a similar condemnation from Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine sparked a swift rebuke from Donald Trump.
Speaking to ABC News, Hinson said: “It’s terrible. I think about it as a mother and you think about your children surviving childhood sexual abuse and having to relive that trauma on television.”
Hinson also criticized Vice President JD Vance for striking “an absolutely wrong tone” when he said he was “disgusted” by Republicans’ “whining” about the ad.
“Iowans want – and probably Ohioans want – someone who is an empathetic leader, and I think that absolutely sends the wrong message.
“And I would bet that Amy Acton and I probably don’t agree on anything either. But the last thing I would want as the person I’m running against is to force them to relive their childhood trauma. So I think, again, it’s wrong, and it should go away.
Trump to rally in Florida amid growing outcry over Ramaswamy attack publicity
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of American politics. Donald Trump visits Florida today to speak at another rally as midterm election day approaches.
The president will seek a candidate for governor Byron Donalds. It remains to be seen whether Donalds considers this useful after having removed mentions of the president from its website and barely mentioned his name during the gubernatorial race.
My colleague Richard Luscombe has more on this race:
Last night, Trump stirred up further controversy surrounding an attack ad by Vivek Ramaswamyfeaturing the mother of his Democratic rival, Dr Amy Acton — telling supporters at a rally that he personally told the Republican candidate for Ohio governor to continue running the office.
Acton’s mother lost custody of her daughter when she was 12 because her husband was accused of raping the young girl. Trump said at the Iowa rally: “I said, ‘You’ve got to roll with it.’ »
Trump appears increasingly out of step with his own party over the ad after another Republican denounced the ad Thursday. Republican candidate for Iowa Senate Ashley Hinson broke with the president in denouncing the offensive ad, saying, “I think it’s absolutely terrible, and I think they should take the ad down.” »
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