A Ford Motor Co. employee who was suspended after heckling President Donald Trump during a factory visit has become the focus of widespread online fundraising, with GoFundMe campaigns raising more than $800,000 in less than 24 hours.
The employee, identified as TJ Sabula, was suspended following Trump’s visit Tuesday to Ford’s Michigan plant where the company assembles its best-selling F-150 pickup truck. Sabula later told The Washington Post that he was the individual who shouted “pedophile protector” at the president during the event.
Video footage of the incident, obtained by TMZ, shows Trump reacting after the comment by raising his middle finger and appearing to mouth an expletive. The White House later described Trump’s response as directed at “a lunatic” who was “wildly screaming expletives.”
Trump’s visit to the plant was intended to highlight the administration’s emphasis on rebuilding the U.S. workforce and Ford’s efforts to strengthen its blue-collar labor pipeline. The president toured the factory alongside Ford CEO Jim Farley.
The United Auto Workers (UAW), which represents workers at the plant, confirmed that Sabula had been suspended and said it is reviewing the decision. In a statement to Business Insider, UAW Vice President Laura Dickerson said the union supports freedom of speech while also emphasizing workplace standards.
“Workers should never be subjected to vulgar language or behavior by anyone — including the President of the United States,” Dickerson said.
Two GoFundMe campaigns launched in support of Sabula quickly gained traction, collectively raising more than $800,000 before donations were paused Wednesday evening. One campaign drew contributions from more than 21,000 donors, while the second was supported by over 13,000 people. Both listed Thomas Sabula as the beneficiary.
Organizers later posted updates thanking supporters and announcing that donations had been closed. “TJ and his family greatly appreciate the outpouring of support,” the campaigns said, encouraging donors to support other causes.
Sabula said he had “no regrets whatsoever” about his actions, telling the Post that he felt compelled to speak out during the president’s visit. One of the fundraising pages cited concerns over the administration’s handling of the release of records related to Jeffrey Epstein.
