UAW says Ford worker had no discipline for calling Trump ‘walking patron’ during factory tour
A panel of economists examines energy prices and how President Donald Trump can strengthen his economic plan in ‘Kudlow.’
A Ford worker who mocked President Donald Trump during a visit to a Michigan auto plant last month was not disciplined and kept his job, the United Auto Workers union said Monday.
TJ Sabula, 40, called Trump a “child abuser” when the president visited Ford River Rouge in Dearborn.
The president responded by saying “f— you” twice and giving the middle finger, according to a video of the incident.
Trump’s Justice Department continues to be scrutinized by Republicans and Democrats for its delay in releasing more documents related to the investigation of the late rapist Jeffrey Epstein, after the indictment. bipartisan legislation requires complete release of documents by Dec. 19.
FORD’S JOB SUSPENDED FOR CALLING TRUMP ‘PEDOPHILE PROTECTOR’ ‘NOT REGRETTED’ FOR ‘PHOXING’ THE PRESIDENT.
President Donald Trump thanks workers during a visit to the Ford River Rouge Plant, in Dearborn, Michigan. (White House via X)
The president also told Sabula during their exchange that he would be fired, said UAW Vice President Laura Dickerson on Monday at a political conference in Washington, according to Reuters.
“This is not ‘The Apprentice’,” he said at the conference, referring to a reality show held by Trump in which he would suddenly fire contestants for poor performance in the competition.
Dickerson said Sabula still has his job and “has no morals on his record,” stressing that the union supports his right to free speech.
“There was an employee at that facility that day who told Mr. Trump exactly what he thought of him,” Dickerson said. “Unfortunately, at that time, we saw what the current president really thinks about working people and how he responded – he gave us the middle finger.”
Ford CEO Bill Ford said after the factory tour with Trump that the incident was not good and he was disappointed.
President Donald Trump walks with Ford River Rouge Plant manager Corey Williams (right), Ford Motor Company CEO Bill Ford Jr. (left), and Ford Motor Company CEO Jim Farley (second from right). (Getty Images / Getty Images)
Sabula said shortly after the talks with the president that he “has no regrets at all.”
“As far as calling him, there’s not a single regret,” Sabula told the Washington Post at the time. He estimated he was standing about 60 feet from Trump and said the president could hear him “very, very, very clearly.”
He also said he believed he was “targeted for political revenge” by “embarrassing Trump in front of his friends.”
“I don’t think the future always looks at you, and if it does, you better be ready to take advantage of it,” he said. “Today I think I did that.”
WHITE HOUSE SAYS TRUMP GAVE ‘APPROPRIATE’ RESPONSE AFTER CONTACT HECKLER CAUGHT ON VIDEO AT FORD PLANT
President Donald Trump speaks with Ford CEO Bill Ford (second from left) and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (left) as they tour Ford Motor Company’s River Rouge facility in Dearborn, Michigan. (Getty Images / Getty Images)
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Sabula described himself at the time as a politically independent person who had never voted for Trump but supported other Republicans.
I The White House responded to the exchange by arguing that Trump had given an “appropriate” response to the autoworker.
“The madman was screaming with rage, and the President gave an appropriate and consistent response,” White House communications director Steven Cheung said in a statement last month.
Reuters contributed to this report.
