Is TJ Sabula a Republican? All on Trump heckler's political affiliation

TJ Sabula, an auto worker, expressed no regrets after calling President Trump a 'pedophile protector' during his visit to Ford in Detroit.

Updated on: Jan 15, 2026, 01:31:17 IST

By Shweta Kukreti

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TJ Sabula, the auto worker who referred to US President Donald Trump as a “pedophile protector,” stated that he does not regret the action that has resulted in his suspension from employment.

Ford employee TJ Sabula called Trump a 'pedophile protector'. (REUTERS)

TJ Sabula, 40, yelled “pedophile protector” at Trump on Tuesday during his visit to the Ford facility in Detroit.

Following the insult, an irate Trump gestured with his finger and exclaimed, “F--- you!” to Sabula twice before giving the worker the middle finger.

“As far as calling him out, definitely no regrets whatsoever,” Sabula stated to The Washington Post.

Meanwhile, Ford has suspended him from his role as an investigation is currently underway.

Sabula informed the Post that he feels he was “targeted for political retribution” due to “embarrassing Trump in front of his friends.”

He further stated that he was approximately 60 feet away from Trump, who could hear him “very, very, very clearly,” and mentioned that his insult pertained to Trump's management of the Epstein files.

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

Also Read: TJ Sabula family: All we know about Trump heckler's wife and children

TJ Sabula's political affiliation: Is he a Trump supporter?

Sabula stated that he has never cast a vote for Trump. However, he has backed other Republican candidates in the past. He considers himself a political independent.

GoFundMe for TJ Sabula

A GoFundMe campaign was established in his name to assist in compensating for the income lost due to the suspension. By Wednesday morning, it had accumulated over $70,000, with claimed contributors including the band Dropkick Murphys.

“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,” says the GoFundMe campaign.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shweta Kukreti
Shweta Kukreti has over 8 years of experience in covering Indian and world politics. She joined the Hindustan Times in 2024 and is primarily assigned to the US desk. She currently works as Deputy Chief Content Producer and reports on a wide range of topics, including US politics, immigration issues (especially H-1B visa) and major global events. Shweta strongly emphasizes team operations, which encompasses monitoring news, delegating tasks, editing, developing comprehensive coverage strategies, and crafting engaging, and data-informed narratives. She received the Digi Star Award at the Hindustan Times within a year of joining for her broad coverage of US politics. In 2025, she earned both a promotion and a redesignation, a significant achievement recognising her contributions and the strong value she brings to the team. She has previously worked with the Indian Express, HTDS, ANI and Republic World. Seniors in all the media organisations recognised her work. Regarding education, she earned a BA (Hons.) in Political Science and a master's degree from Delhi University, and she pursued a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institution of Mass Communication (IIMC). She also holds a diploma in Women's Empowerment and Development from IGNOU University and a French certification course from Alliance Française de Delhi. If not working, you can find her exploring the hills and engaging in adventurous activities in Rishikesh and Himachal Pradesh. She loves to play badminton, volleyball, and chess, and spend time with her friends and family. She also enjoys spiritual activities.Read More

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