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Incident at Ford factory draws national attention
The White House has defended US President Donald Trump after he appeared to respond to a heckler with an offensive gesture during a visit to a Detroit Ford plant on Tuesday.
What happened during the confrontation
Footage published by TMZ shows Trump reacting to a man shouting from a distance. According to subtitles in the video, the heckler called Trump a "paedophile protector." The president is seen allegedly mouthing an expletive and making a middle-finger gesture in response.
White House and Ford respond
The White House described the heckler as "a lunatic wildly screaming expletives in a complete fit of rage," calling Trump's reaction "appropriate and unambiguous."
Ford suspended the employee involved, a spokesperson told CBS News, citing the company's commitment to respect. "We don't condone inappropriate behavior in our facilities," the spokesperson said, while declining to discuss specific personnel actions.
Heckler identified, gains public support
A man named TJ Sabula told The Washington Post he was the individual who shouted at Trump. Sabula, who said he had "no regrets," claimed his remarks referred to Trump's handling of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.
Within 24 hours of the incident, two GoFundMe campaigns raised nearly $700,000 (£521,000) for Sabula from over 27,000 donors.
Union backs employee's right to speak out
The United Auto Workers (UAW), which represents Sabula, defended his actions. "He believes in freedom of speech, a principle we wholeheartedly embrace," the union said, adding it stands with members protecting their voice on the job.
Trump's history with Epstein and public expletives
Trump has faced calls for greater transparency regarding federal investigations into Epstein. He signed legislation requiring the Department of Justice to release all Epstein-related files by December 19, though only a portion has been made public so far.
Trump previously described Epstein as a friend but stated their relationship ended years before Epstein's first arrest. No allegations of wrongdoing have been made against Trump in connection with Epstein.
The president's use of expletives in public has drawn attention before, including during a 2023 speech discussing Iran and Israel. His predecessor, Joe Biden, also sparked controversy for using an expletive during a 2020 factory visit in Detroit while campaigning.
Context of Trump's Detroit visit
Trump was in Detroit to address the Detroit Economic Club, part of his broader engagement with manufacturing and labor groups.
