Former President Donald Trump was caught on camera delivering a crude, two-word riposte and an obscene hand gesture to a heckling auto worker during a visit to a Ford factory in Michigan.
Confrontation on the Factory Floor
The incident occurred on Tuesday, 14 January 2026, as Trump toured the Ford F-150 plant in Dearborn, Michigan. He was accompanied by Bill Ford, the company's executive chairman and great-grandson of founder Henry Ford, and CEO Jim Farley.
In video footage obtained by TMZ, an off-camera individual can be heard shouting at the president, labelling him a "pedophile protector". The taunt is an apparent reference to the ongoing controversy surrounding Trump's alleged connections to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump's response was immediate and visceral. The footage appears to show him mouthing the words "f*** you" before raising his middle finger in the direction of the protester. He then walked away, waving and smiling to others present.
The Heckler Identified and Suspended
The individual involved was later identified by The Washington Post as TJ Sabula, a 40-year-old production line worker at the Dearborn facility. Sabula is a member of the United Auto Workers Local 600 union.
In a statement to the newspaper, Sabula expressed no remorse for his actions. "As far as calling him out, definitely no regrets whatsoever," he said. However, he confirmed he had been suspended from his job pending an internal investigation into the confrontation.
Sabula claimed the suspension was a form of "political retribution" for "embarrassing Trump in front of his friends." The White House, however, defended the president's reaction. Communications director Steven Cheung told The Independent that Trump's response was "appropriate," characterising Sabula as "a lunatic... wildly screaming expletives in a complete fit of rage."
Epstein Fallout and Political Divisions
The heckler's accusation touches on a deeply contentious issue that has shadowed the early months of Trump's second term. The administration and the Department of Justice continue to manage the fallout from the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein.
While Trump has repeatedly denied close ties to Epstein and faces no criminal accusations, the subject has caused a notable schism within his MAGA support base. High-profile allies, including Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Thomas Massie, have defied the White House by pushing for the full release of unclassified Epstein documents.
Despite the hostile exchange, the factory visit was not entirely negative for the president. The Washington Post reported that elsewhere on the tour, other workers cheered for Trump and posed for selfies. Following the plant visit, Trump proceeded to deliver a scheduled speech at the Detroit Economic Club.
The Independent has contacted Ford Motor Company for comment on the incident involving its employee and the president's conduct on its premises.
