• A video appears to show the President making a gesture mid-tour.
  • The exchange reportedly followed Epstein-related accusations.
  • Ford and the White House acknowledged the incident publicly.

It’s not every day you see a sitting President make a provocative gesture during a factory visit, but Donald Trump’s stop at Ford’s assembly plant in Dearborn, Michigan drew attention for just that. In response to a heckler, he appeared to mouth an insult and what appears to be a raised middle, a moment that didn’t take long to circulate online.

In a widely circulated video, the President seems to say “f… you” toward someone off-camera, followed by a brief hand motion that many interpreted as the unmistakable gesture, before resuming the tour of the Ford F-150 production line.

More: Ford Cheered Trump’s Fuel Economy Rollback, Now It’s Rolling Out The Red Carpet

Trump’s most recent headlines have centered on US actions in Venezuela, his comments about the future of Greenland, and his response to the recent ICE shooting in Minnesota. But the tense exchange at the Ford facility was tied to a different controversy, the renewed public scrutiny over his alleged links to the Epstein case.

A Flashpoint at the Factory

The man who interrupted the tour accused Trump of being a “pedophile protector,” a statement that seems to have triggered the President’s response. He was later identified as TJ Sabula, a Ford employee and member of the United Auto Workers union, who has since been suspended by the company.

Sabula, 40, said he’s unsure about what this means for his job in the long run, especially after “embarrassing Trump in front of his friends.” But when asked if he had regrets about the confrontation, he was clear: “As far as calling him out, definitely no regrets whatsoever.”

How Did Ford React?

According to Reuters, Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford described the incident as unfortunate and embarrassing during a brief conversation with reporters. Still, he attempted to play it down, describing it as “six seconds of an hour tour” that otherwise went smoothly. “I think he really enjoyed it and we did too,” Ford added.

A company spokesperson offered a more formal response to TMZ, framing the event as a successful day overall. “We had a great event today and we’re proud of how our employees represented Ford,” the statement read. “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 Administration’s Take

In a statement to the Washington Post, White House communication director Steven Cheung defended the President’s actions: “A lunatic was wildly screaming expletives in a complete fit of rage, and the President gave an appropriate and unambiguous response”.

Whether “appropriate” is the right word depends on your perspective. But Trump isn’t the first U.S. leader caught using the gesture. George W. Bush once famously flashed his middle finger to a camera behind the scenes of a television interview, later calling it a “one-fingered victory salute.”

Vice President Nelson Rockefeller delivered a similar gesture to a crowd of hecklers in 1976, which became known as the “Rockefeller Salute.” More recently, Vice President JD Vance used the same move during a Republican fundraiser in Ohio to underscore a point about political division and protest culture.

What Did the President Say About Ford?

Returning to the original purpose of the visit, Trump’s tour of Ford’s River Rouge plant served as a public endorsement of his “America First” economic strategy. The visit came at a time when Ford has been dialing back its electric vehicle push, a pivot some see as aligning with the President’s more traditional manufacturing focus.

Trump walked the F-150 assembly line alongside Bill Ford and CEO Jim Farley, praising what he called the “unbelievable quality” of the trucks. He also highlighted Ford’s role in keeping production within the US.

Speaking to reporters, Trump said: “Ford has really been a leader, they’ve done a great job. But all of them, General Motors is doing really well, Stellantis is doing really well, we’re really happy about it. I just want them to build their product in the USA.”

When asked about the soon-to-expire USMCA trade agreement, he responded with his characteristic ambivalence. “We could have it or not, it wouldn’t matter. I think they want it, I don’t really care about it.

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