A Ford Motor Company employee in Detroit has been suspended from his job after a dramatic confrontation with former US President Donald Trump, an incident that has since sparked a massive wave of public support online.
Confrontation on the Factory Floor
The incident occurred on Tuesday, 13th January 2026, during a tour of a Ford plant in Detroit by the former president. TJ Sabula, a 40-year-old suspended factory worker, shouted at Trump, branding him a "paedophile protector," a reference Trump's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case files.
Trump's response was captured on camera and widely reported. The former president was seen twice yelling – or clearly mouthing – the phrase "f**k you" while making an obscene hand gesture towards Sabula. This marked a significant and public loss of composure for a political figure famously unaccustomed to direct challenges from members of the public.
Sabula, who was later identified by The Washington Post, stated he was roughly 60 feet away and believes Trump heard him "very, very, very clearly." He expressed no regret for his actions, telling the newspaper, "As far as calling him out, definitely no regrets whatsoever." He believes his suspension is a form of "political retribution" for "embarrassing Trump in front of his friends."
Public Backlash and Financial Support
In the wake of his suspension pending an investigation, a crowdfunding campaign was swiftly established to help Sabula "pay some bills." Public sympathy has translated into substantial financial backing, with the fund raising more than a quarter of a million dollars in a remarkably short period.
Sabula framed his act of protest as seizing a rare opportunity, saying, "I don't feel as though fate looks upon you often, and when it does, you better be ready to seize the opportunity. And today I think I did that."
The White House offered a starkly different perspective on the event. A spokesman dismissed Sabula as "a lunatic... wildly screaming expletives in a complete fit of rage," and described Trump's gesture as "an appropriate and unambiguous response."
Trump's Controversial Detroit Speech
The heated exchange preceded a speech by Trump at the Detroit Economic Club, which was characterised by rambling and inflammatory remarks. During his address, he made several controversial statements regarding immigration and US policy.
Trump threatened to strip US citizenship from anyone originally from Somalia convicted of fraud, a move that would be illegal under current US law. Citizenship revocation is only permissible under very limited circumstances related directly to the citizenship process itself.
He also took aim at so-called "Sanctuary Cities," vowing to cut off all federal funding. "Because they do everything possible to protect criminals at the expense of American citizens," Trump asserted, adding, "It brings fraud, crime, all of the other problems that come."
His rhetoric extended to invoking America's "native spirit," a phrase that followed a week where several US government departments were criticised for using social media messages with white supremacist connotations. "As we liberate our country from this cultural scourge and the plague of corruption and fraud, we will rediscover the natural energy and native spirit that truly makes America great again," he said.
