Ford Employee Faces Suspension for Calling Trump a ‘Pedophile Protector’ at Plant, Stands Firm with No Regrets
O’Leary Ventures chairman Kevin O’Leary says he’s ‘freaked out’ that China is ‘kicking our butts’ in the energy sector on ‘The Evening Edit.’
During a recent visit to a Ford plant in Michigan, an autoworker found himself at the center of a controversial exchange with President Donald Trump. The worker, TJ Sabula, 40, was suspended after shouting “pedophile protector!” at Trump, a remark that elicited a notable response from the president, who was seen mouthing “f— you” and giving a middle finger, as captured in a video obtained by TMZ.
The incident unfolded as Trump toured the Ford River Rouge complex in Dearborn. Sabula’s outburst came shortly after another individual off-camera hurled an insult at the president. In an interview with The Washington Post, Sabula expressed that he has “no regrets” about his actions, stating, “As far as calling him out, definitely no regrets whatsoever.” He estimated that he was approximately 60 feet away from Trump and believed the president could hear him “very, very, very clearly.”
Following the incident, Sabula was suspended from his job pending an internal investigation. He voiced concerns about the future of his employment but felt he was “targeted for political retribution” for “embarrassing Trump in front of his friends.”
President Donald Trump walks with Ford River Rouge Plant Manager Corey Williams (right), Executive chair of Ford Motor Company Bill Ford Jr. (left), and CEO of Ford Motor Company Jim Farley (second from right). (Getty Images / Getty Images)
Sabula identifies as a political independent and has never voted for Trump, although he has supported other Republican candidates. He emphasized the importance of seizing opportunities when they arise, stating, “I don’t feel as though fate looks upon you often, and when it does, you better be ready to seize the opportunity. And today I think I did that.”
The White House defended Trump’s reaction, asserting that it was “appropriate.” White House communications director Steven Cheung described Sabula’s actions as those of a “lunatic” who was “wildly screaming expletives in a complete fit of rage.”
This incident occurs amid ongoing scrutiny of Trump’s Justice Department regarding delays in releasing documents related to investigations into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. A bipartisan law mandated the full release of these documents by December 19, yet only about 1% of the files have been made public.
O’Leary Ventures chairman Kevin O’Leary says he’s ‘freaked out’ that China is ‘kicking our butts’ in the energy sector on ‘The Evening Edit.’
During a recent visit to a Ford plant in Michigan, an autoworker found himself at the center of a controversial exchange with President Donald Trump. The worker, TJ Sabula, 40, was suspended after shouting “pedophile protector!” at Trump, a remark that elicited a notable response from the president, who was seen mouthing “f— you” and giving a middle finger, as captured in a video obtained by TMZ.
The incident unfolded as Trump toured the Ford River Rouge complex in Dearborn. Sabula’s outburst came shortly after another individual off-camera hurled an insult at the president. In an interview with The Washington Post, Sabula expressed that he has “no regrets” about his actions, stating, “As far as calling him out, definitely no regrets whatsoever.” He estimated that he was approximately 60 feet away from Trump and believed the president could hear him “very, very, very clearly.”
Following the incident, Sabula was suspended from his job pending an internal investigation. He voiced concerns about the future of his employment but felt he was “targeted for political retribution” for “embarrassing Trump in front of his friends.”
President Donald Trump walks with Ford River Rouge Plant Manager Corey Williams (right), Executive chair of Ford Motor Company Bill Ford Jr. (left), and CEO of Ford Motor Company Jim Farley (second from right). (Getty Images / Getty Images)
Sabula identifies as a political independent and has never voted for Trump, although he has supported other Republican candidates. He emphasized the importance of seizing opportunities when they arise, stating, “I don’t feel as though fate looks upon you often, and when it does, you better be ready to seize the opportunity. And today I think I did that.”
The White House defended Trump’s reaction, asserting that it was “appropriate.” White House communications director Steven Cheung described Sabula’s actions as those of a “lunatic” who was “wildly screaming expletives in a complete fit of rage.”
This incident occurs amid ongoing scrutiny of Trump’s Justice Department regarding delays in releasing documents related to investigations into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. A bipartisan law mandated the full release of these documents by December 19, yet only about 1% of the files have been made public.
