DEARBORN, Mich. – A Ford worker was suspended after calling President Donald Trump a “pedophile protector” during his visit to a plant in Dearborn this week, which resulted in the president flipping him off.
Here’s everything we know:
Trump spoke at the Detroit Economic Club on Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 13, 2026, after a tour of the Ford F-150 factory.
While Trump was at the Ford Rouge plant, a worker yelled something at him that included the phrase “pedophile protector,” according to a video obtained by TMZ.
Trump appeared to give the worker the middle finger and respond with “f--- you.”
“We had a great event today, and we’re proud of how our employees represented Ford,” a Ford spokesperson said. “We’ve seen the clip you’re referring to. One of our core values is respect, and we don’t condone anyone saying anything inappropriate like that within our facilities. When that happens, we have a process to deal with it, but we don’t get into specific personnel matters.”
The Ford worker has since been suspended, and online fundraisers were set up for him.
One of those fundraisers has over $480,000 as of Friday, Jan. 16. The fundraiser calls the worker a “patriot” and says the money is to help him “pay some bills.”
The UAW released a statement on Wednesday, Jan. 14, regarding the confrontation and the worker’s suspension.
“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."
Laura Dickerson, UAW Ford Department Director
The White House defended Trump’s action, telling TMZ that the person was “wildly screaming expletives in a complete fit of rage,” and saying Trump “gave an appropriate and unambiguous response.”