President Donald Trump on Friday continued to defend a highly controversial ad from Ohio GOP gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy featuring his Democratic opponent Amy Acton's estranged mother -- who Acton says stood by the man who was criminally charged with sexually abusing her as a child.

As he left the White House Friday morning, Trump repeatedly dismissed questions from reporters about the specific allegations of Acton's sexual abuse, asserting at multiple points that the ad has "nothing to do" with Acton's stepfather, who was criminally charged and pleaded not guilty.

Her stepfather, who died in 2004, fled the state with her mother before trial and never appeared before a judge, according to court records and an interview given by Acton's mother.