TJ Sabula faces stern action amid Trump flipping row; GoFundMe sparks controversy

Thomas ‘TJ’ Sabula has been identified as the man whom President Donald Trump flipped at, mouthing expletives, during his tour of Ford's plants in Michigan

Published on: Jan 14, 2026, 22:09:26 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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Thomas ‘TJ’ Sabula has been identified as the man whom President Donald Trump flipped at, mouthing expletives, during his tour of Ford's plants in Michigan on Tuesday. Since then, a GoFundMe has been launched to support the United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 600 line worker.

TJ Sabula heckled Trump at Ford's plant in Michigan (X)

What happened on Tuesday?

TJ Sabula was recorded getting into a confrontation with Trump. The Ford worker called the president a ‘pedophile protector’, further stating that the 79-year-old is ‘fired’.

Trump flipped at him, further appearing to mouth ‘F**k you’.

TJ Sabula faces action

Meanwhile, Sabula was fired from his job, according to a GoFundMe page created by his family friend, Sean Williams.

“Please help us raise funds for patriot TJ Sabula!! TJ was suspended from his job at the Ford Automotive Company for correctly calling President Donald J Trump a Pedophile Protector!! Let’s rally and support TJ and help him pay some bills (and force DJT to release the Trump/Epstein Files) LFG!!” Williams added.

The fundraiser has raised more than $280,000 at the time of writing this story. Another GoFundMe, created by a close friend Diandra Gourlay, has raised over $100,000.

“TJ is a father of two young children, husband, and is a proud United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 600 line worker. Funds donated will support TJ and his family to cover expenses during this time of uncertainty,” the description reads.

Reactions to GoFundMe

Several social media users brought up the fundraiser created for Renee Good, who was fatally shot by ICE agent Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis, while reacting to the GoFundMe for Sabula.

“How about somebody launch a GoFundMe for TJ Sabula and raise as much as the murdering ICE nazi?” one person asked on X, platform formerly known as Twitter.

“Johnathan Ross was not even suspended for murdering Renee Nicole Good, but Ford suspends TJ Sabula for speaking truth to power and murdering Trumps feelings. Make it make sense,” another person tweeted.

TJ Sabula reacts

Sabula spoke about the incident on Tuesday. He told the Washington Post that ‘as far as calling him out’ he had ‘definitely no regrets whatsoever’. He further added that he was concerned about his job security.

“I don’t feel as though fate looks upon you often, and when it does, you better be ready to seize the opportunity. And today I think I did that.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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