Funds surpass US$330,000 for Michigan autoworker suspended after heckling Trump at Ford plant

MICHIGAN, U.S: An autoworker at a Ford Motor Co. plant in Michigan has raised over US$330,000 in public donations after being suspended without pay following an exchange with US President Donald Trump during a factory tour.

The incident occurred on 13 January as Trump visited Ford’s River Rouge complex in Dearborn ahead of a speech at the Detroit Economic Club.

Video shows confrontation on factory floor

The video footage shows a man shouting from the factory floor as Trump walked past, before the president appeared to raise his middle finger in the man’s direction.

The individual was later identified as TJ Sabula, a 40-year-old line worker at the plant, who said he had shouted “pedophile protector” at the president.

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Autoworker says he has no regrets

In interviews with The Washington Post, Sabula said he stood by his actions and had “no regrets,” but expressed concern about his job security.

He said he believed he was being targeted for political retaliation and for embarrassing the president during the visit.

Ford confirmed that Sabula was suspended pending an internal investigation but did not immediately comment further.

White House defends Trump’s response

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung did not confirm that Trump made the gesture but defended the president’s actions, saying Trump had given an “appropriate and unambiguous response” to what he described as someone screaming expletives.

Trump has not been accused of wrongdoing in connection with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, whom Sabula referenced during the incident.

Union support and public donations

The United Auto Workers (UAW) union criticised Sabula’s suspension and vowed to challenge any disciplinary action. Laura Dickerson, vice-president and director of the Ford department at UAW, said:

“The autoworker at the Dearborn Truck Plant is a proud member of a strong and fighting union. He believes in freedom of speech, a principle we wholeheartedly embrace, and we stand with our membership in protecting their voice on the job.”

She added, “The UAW will ensure that our member receives the full protection of all negotiated contract language safeguarding his job and his rights as a union member.

Workers should never be subjected to vulgar language or behavior by anyone — including the President of the United States.”

Meanwhile, a GoFundMe campaign set up to support Sabula and his family has now raised US$330,085, far surpassing its initial US$10,000 target.

Donors include the band Dropkick Murphys.

The campaign says the funds will help cover lost income while Sabula’s employment status remains uncertain.