Video shows someone yelling "pedophile protector" at Trump, who seemingly mouthed back an expletive and flipped his middle finger.
Donations pour in for suspended Ford worker who heckled Trump
Summer Ballentine
The Detroit News
Jan. 14, 2026, 1:02 p.m. ET
To the White House, a now-suspended Ford Motor Co. worker who heckled President Donald Trump during a Detroit-area factory visit Tuesday is "a lunatic." To others, including thousands who have donated to him since, he's a "hero" and "patriot."
Video first reported by TMZ and confirmed as authentic by the White House shows someone at Dearborn Truck yelling "pedophile protector" at Trump, who seemingly mouthed back an expletive and flipped his middle finger in the shouter's direction.
“A lunatic was wildly screaming expletives in a complete fit of rage, and the President gave an appropriate and unambiguous response,” White House communications director Steven Cheung said in a statement to the Washington Post.
Dearborn Truck Plant line worker TJ Sabula told the Post he was the one who shouted at the president during the tour and said he has no regrets, although he's worried about his job after being suspended. More than $530,000 had been raised through two online fundraisers for Sabula — a GoFundMe titled "TJ Sabula is a patriot!! and another headlined Support Ford Worker TJ Sabula during suspension — as of Wednesday afternoon.
Donald Trump has always claimed to be a champion of the working class. But as soon as a blue-collar worker
