At a Glance
- TJ Sabula yelled “pedophile protector” at Donald Trump during a Jan. 13 plant tour
- Trump responded with a raised middle finger and an expletive
- Sabula has been suspended from the Ford F-150 plant pending an investigation
- Why it matters: The clash highlights tensions over the slow release of Epstein files and raises questions about political speech inside workplaces
A Michigan auto worker who heckled Donald Trump at a Ford factory says he has “no regrets” after being suspended for calling the president a “pedophile protector.”
The incident unfolded on Tuesday, Jan. 13, when Trump toured the Ford River Rouge Complex ahead of a Detroit Economic Club speech. Video first posted by TMZ shows Trump, 79, flipping his middle finger and shouting “F–k you” after TJ Sabula, a 40-year-old line worker, shouted the epithet from about 60 feet away.
Sabula, a member of United Auto Workers Local 600, told The Washington Post he has since been placed on leave while Ford conducts an internal review.
The Confrontation
Sabula said he spotted a rare chance to confront the president over the lingering controversy surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein files.
“I don’t feel as though fate looks upon you often, and when it does, you better be ready to seize the opportunity,” he told the paper. “And today I think I did that.”
According to Sabula:
- He has never voted for Trump
- He has supported other Republicans in the past
- He identifies as politically independent
- He wanted to spotlight Trump’s handling of the Epstein matter
The White House did not respond to requests for comment from News Of Losangeles. Earlier, White House spokesperson Steven Cheung issued a statement calling Sabula “a lunatic… wildly screaming expletives” and defended Trump’s gesture as “an appropriate and unambiguous response.”
Fallout at Ford
Ford spokesperson told TMZ the company “had a great event” but does “not condone anyone saying anything inappropriate” inside its facilities.
Key points from Ford:
- Respect is a core value
- A formal process governs employee conduct
- Personnel details remain confidential
Sabula believes the suspension amounts to “political retribution” for embarrassing Trump in front of donors and executives.
Epstein Files Dispute
The heckling references ongoing frustration over the pace of Epstein-document releases. Congress set a Dec. 19 deadline for full disclosure. The Department of Justice has so far released roughly 30,000 pages, but officials told a federal judge more than 2 million documents remain unreleased.
A DOJ statement on Dec. 23 acknowledged some newly released pages contain “untrue and sensationalist claims” against Trump, labeling them “unfounded and false.”
Epstein, arrested in July 2019 on sex-trafficking charges, died by suicide in a Manhattan jail the next month. Photos showing Trump and Epstein together at 1990s social events continue to fuel public scrutiny.
What Happens Next
Sabula remains off the job while Ford investigates. He told the Post he worries about long-term employment but refuses to back down.
“As far as calling him out, definitely no regrets whatsoever,” he said.
Neither Ford nor the White House provided additional updates when contacted by Marcus L. Bennett.
