Suspended Michigan autoworker who heckled Trump gets outpouring of donations

[cbabe]

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/14/trump-suspended-michigan-autoworker

Suspended Michigan autoworker who heckled Trump gets outpouring of donations

TJ Sabula raises tens of thousands after he reportedly called Trump a ‘pedophile protector’ during Ford plant tour

Michael Sainato
Wed 14 Jan 2026 10.23 EST

Tens of thousands of dollars have been raised for an autoworker at a Ford plant in Michigan who was suspended without pay after heckling Donald Trump.

TJ Sabula is said to have called the president a ‘pedophile protector’ as he toured the automotive giant’s River Rouge complex on Tuesday. Trump appeared to give Sabula the middle finger, according to a video published by celebrity news and gossip site TMZ, which claimed that Trump also yelled obscenities prior to making the gesture.

In an interview with the Washington Post, Sabula said “as far as calling him out” he had “definitely no regrets whatsoever”. But he said he was concerned about his job security after the incident, claiming he had been “targeted for political retribution” and for “embarrassing Trump in front of his friends”. “I don’t feel as though fate looks upon you often, and when it does, you better be ready to seize the opportunity,” Sabula added in the interview. “And today I think I did that.”

A GoFundMe was created on his behalf, to help cover lost income from the suspension. As of Wednesday morning, it had raised more than $70,000, with purported donors including the band Dropkick Murphy’s.

“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 GoFundMe campaign states.

… more …

https://m.

[Ritabert]

1. The guy's a hero.

[flashman13]

2. You can't help but see the irony in a punk band from Boston singing the new American anthem.

[leftstreet]

3. Why hasn't Trump sued him for slander?

He sues everyone else

[LetMyPeopleVote]

4. This makes me smile

Link to tweet

[Cha]

8. TY.. The last I read it's up to....

$318,472 raised of
250K

https://gofund.me/4676d6681💙

Probably More Now..

[LetMyPeopleVote]

14. More good news

[joanbarnes]

5. Next, a Worldwide boycott of Ford?

[gfarber]

6. Heckler

TJ Sabula, bold and quite brash,
Called Trump a "protector of trash."
He heckled, no doubt,
Trump flipped him right out,
And the video made quite a splash!

At a Ford plant, the tension was thick,
TJ’s words landed like a quick stick.
He called Trump a name,
That put him to shame,
And Trump gave a gesture real slick.

Suspended and left in a bind,
TJ said, "I have no regrets to find."
He stood by his word,
His message was heard,
Now funds for his cause are aligned.

A GoFundMe was set up with care,
To help TJ get through this unfair scare.
With seventy grand,
A generous stand,
For a man who dared Trump to beware.

Now the story's spread wide and far,
Of TJ and Trump in a bizarre spar.
With a flip and a yell,
The tension did swell,
But TJ’s got money for his car!

[cbabe]

7. Poetry joy. Now find some music. A Jesse Welles tune.

[calimary]

18. Delicious!

I bet your poetry is inspiring many others to get involved, gfarber, and for that we all should thank you!

[PatSeg]

9. That's very cool

His suspension was really a terrible choice and not very good for the image of Ford.

[FakeNoose]

10. This is a better link for GoFundMe... (TJSabula)

https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-tj-sabula-the-ford-worker-who-stood-up-to-trump

He's already got 90% of his goal ... $224,022.

[questionseverything]

15. Post # 4 shows a link that goes directly to his go fund me

Yours goes to the site in general

[Jimvanhise]

11. TRUMP DOESN'T KNOW HOW HATED HE IS

His regime is protecting him because Trump will fire anyone who gives him bad news. That's why he has a polling company who only tells him what he wants to hear because Trump fired polling companies which told him the truth.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

12. 500K according to this article

Donations for suspended Ford worker who heckled Trump hit $500K

The employee Ford Motor suspended for heckling President Donald Trump — who in turn appears to have given the employee the middle finger — is getting plenty of support from his friends.

Two GoFundMe pages for the suspended Ford employee, identified as T.J. Sabula, have raised more than half a million dollars as of the early afternoon of Jan. 14.

A GoFundMe spokesperson confirmed the two pages as legitimate fundraisers for Sabula. The Free Press reached out to Sabula, who did not responded to inquiries for comment. The GoFundMe spokesperson said he asked the organization to communicate that he is declining interviews at this time.

The incident that led to the worker being suspended without pay happened Jan. 13 during an afternoon visit by Trump to Ford's Dearborn Truck Plant, where Ford assembles its F-150 pickup. Trump toured the facility ahead of a planned speech before the Detroit Economic Club.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/gofundme-pages-raise-money-ford-165325848.html

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

13. $239,000

https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-ford-worker-tj-sabula-during-suspension

[questionseverything]

17. Post # 4 shows $387,000

I hope it just keeps climbing

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

19. There are 2 gofundme

[questionseverything]

20. Wonderful!!!!

[calimary]

16. Excellent!!!

A big salute and thank-you to all who are helping!!!