White House's Defends Trump's 'F*** You' Comment, Middle Finger Gesture — Calls Heckler 'A Lunatic'

The White House has stepped in to defend Donald Trump after footage emerged showing the US president appearing to mouth an expletive and raise his middle finger at a heckler during an official visit to a Ford factory in Michigan.

The incident, captured on video on 13 January 2026, quickly spread online and drew sharp attention in Washington. It happened while Trump was promoting US manufacturing, yet it soon shifted focus to presidential conduct. Officials say the reaction was justified, arguing the president was responding to aggressive provocation.

White House Defends Trump's Vulgar Response

The White House moved swiftly to push back against criticism, describing Trump's actions as measured rather than reckless. Officials argued the president was confronted by an individual shouting abuse and chose not to ignore it.

Speaking to Fox News, Steven Cheung, the White House communications director, said Trump faced extreme behaviour and responded clearly.

He stated: 'A lunatic was wildly screaming expletives in a complete fit of rage, and the President gave an appropriate and unambiguous response.' Cheung repeated that view in a separate statement, again declining to address the precise gesture shown in the footage.

The administration did not name the individual involved and offered no comment on any disciplinary steps outside the White House. Instead, it framed the moment as a direct response to hostility rather than an unprovoked outburst.

How Donald Trump Responded To Heckler

The confrontation took place at the Ford River Rouge Complex in Dearborn, Michigan, during a scheduled factory tour on Tuesday. Trump was visiting the site to highlight his administration's support for domestic manufacturing and the auto industry.

Video footage shows Trump briefly turning towards someone shouting from the factory floor. He appears to mouth the words 'f*** you' twice while raising his middle finger, then continues walking without stopping. The exchange lasted only seconds but was clearly visible.

Reports said the heckler shouted 'paedophile protector,' a phrase linked to ongoing scrutiny around documents connected to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. The short clip, roughly 15 seconds long, circulated widely on social media within hours.

Reaction was divided, with some viewers criticising presidential decorum and others backing Trump's blunt style.

What Happened To the Heckler?

The individual later identified himself as TJ Sabula, a 40-year-old line worker at the plant and a member of United Auto Workers Local 600. Sabula said he was the person who shouted at Trump and confirmed he was later suspended from his job while Ford carried out an internal investigation.

Sabula said his actions were driven by Trump's past association with Epstein, who died in jail in 2019. Speaking about the confrontation, he said: 'As far as calling him out, definitely no regrets whatsoever.'

He added that he feared the consequences, claiming he had been 'targeted for political retribution' after 'embarrassing Trump in front of his friends.'

He described himself as politically independent, noting he has never voted for Trump but has supported other Republican candidates. Sabula said he was standing about 60 feet away and believed the president could hear him 'very, very, very clearly'. R

'I don't feel as though fate looks upon you often, and when it does, you better be ready to seize the opportunity,' said the heckler as he reflected on what happened.

Ford Motor Company said it was proud of how employees handled the visit, but does not condone inappropriate language at its facilities. The company said it has a process to deal with such incidents, while declining to discuss individual cases.