Trump Rips Reporter Who Asked About Ramaswamy Ad

President Trump's defense of a brutal campaign ad in the Ohio governor's race escalated into a tense exchange with an NBC News reporter on Friday. Asked by correspondent Monica Alba whether allegations that Democratic candidate Amy Acton was sexually abused as a child "mean nothing" to him, Deadline reports, Trump labeled NBC "one of the worst networks," told Alba to "quiet," and called her "a horrible little reporter." The ad he backs features Acton's estranged mother accusing her daughter of lying about her past, while omitting that Acton's stepfather was charged with raping her.

Trump, who has said Republican nominee Vivek Ramaswamy should keep running the ad, argued that a mother's criticism is fair game in politics. He said he'd "be so lucky" to have such an ad run on his behalf and adding that his mother "thought I was wonderful." When Alba—whom Trump called "Miss NBC"—brought up Acton's stepfather, Trump said, "I don't know anything about her stepfather," Trump said. He then described Alba as a reporter "who just keeps talking," per Mediaite. The president has told female reporters to be quiet before. Other Republicans, including Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, have called on Ramaswamy to pull the ad.