Obnoxious Ford Worker Who Got 'One-Finger Salute' From Trump Learns Actions Have Consequences

On Tuesday, President Trump made a quick visit to Detroit, where he toured a Ford Motor truck manufacturing facility and gave a speech at the Detroit Economic Club. It was while he was at the Ford facility that employee T.J. Sabula 

 

decided to behave obnoxiously and scream “pedophile protector” at the president as he walked nearby.

 Trump, being a guy born and raised in Queens, New York, knew exactly how to handle someone like Sabula, and, according to those on scene, gave the Ford employee a one-finger salute in reply. The president possibly added a "f--- you" for effect. Some of the exchange was caught on video by an observer.

The Ford bosses accompanying President Trump on the facility tour seemed mortified by their employee's low-class behavior. One guy points at Sabula with a definite "I'd like to have a word with you" vibe going on. And it seems like some words were had.

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Soon after news of the exchange started popping up on social media, Sabula, a 40-year-old line worker at Ford, revealed he had been suspended from his job pending an internal investigation. An unrepentant Sabula said of the incident, “As far as calling him out, definitely no regrets whatsoever.” His outburst was, presumably, an inelegant and inarticulate way of asking President Trump about the Epstein Files. That, or he was chasing some social media clout. 

Either way, reports are emerging Wednesday that Ford has, indeed, suspended Sabula. We're also learning a bit more about the man.

On Wednesday, Sabula’s Facebook profile photo was an image of Trump with a raised middle finger and the page included some previously posted anti-Trump political cartoons. He didn’t vote in the 2024 election, voting records show, though he is registered in Detroit.

A Democrat-led effort to make T.J. Sabula into a victim is now well underway. Democrat Rep. Debbie Dingell (MI-06) painted an altogether different picture of the suspended Ford employee than the one painted by the employee himself, saying he's "fearful for his family." Said the congresswoman, “He’s rattled. He’s fearful for his family. I hope the company doesn’t fire him.”

That's a completely different narrative than the tough guy persona Sabula was pushing about himself, no?

Nonetheless, along comes Sabula's union, the UAW, with a strongly-worded statement about fighting to "ensure that our member receives the full protection of all negotiated contract language safeguarding his job and his rights as a union member."

STATEMENT ON FORD PLANT VISIT FROM VP LAURA DICKERSON, FORD DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR 

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

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.

For their part, the Trump White House is unapologetic about the president's role in the exchange with Sabula. Here's White House Communications Director Steven Cheung: "A lunatic was wildly screaming expletives in a complete fit of rage, and the president gave an appropriate and unambiguous response."