On January 14, 2026, President Donald Trump visited a Ford production facility in Dearborn, Michigan, where he encountered a factory worker who criticized him by calling him a 'pedophile protector.' This remark appears to reference Trump's connections to the late Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender, and the ongoing controversy surrounding the delayed release of related documents by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Video footage captured the incident, showing Trump responding with an obscene gesture and mouthing expletives, including a middle finger directed at the worker. White House spokesperson Steven Cheung confirmed the authenticity of the video, describing the worker's outburst as a 'complete fit of rage' and asserting that Trump's reaction was 'appropriate.'

Following the incident, the worker, identified as T.J. Sabula, was suspended by Ford Motor Company. The United Auto Workers (UAW) union has since defended Sabula's right to free speech, emphasizing that no worker should face aggression from anyone, including the President. In response to the suspension, two GoFundMe campaigns for Sabula raised over $650,000, reflecting public support for his actions.

While some Ford employees welcomed Trump during his visit, Ford executive chairman Bill Ford expressed embarrassment over the incident, calling it unfortunate but a minor part of an otherwise positive tour. Trump's visit was part of a broader strategy to promote U.S. manufacturing ahead of the 2026 election, a critical issue in Michigan, a key political state. The ongoing scrutiny of Trump's past associations with Epstein continues to be a contentious topic, with some supporters believing that the government is withholding information about Epstein's connections to influential figures.