President Donald Trump responded with the middle finger to a heckler during a tour of the Ford F-150 assembly plant in Dearborn, Michigan, on Tuesday. Video of the exchange, first obtained by TMZ, shows Trump pointing, mouthing “f— you,” and making a hand gesture as he walked off the elevated walkway where he was standing.
The incident occurred after a worker on the factory floor shouted what appeared to be “pedophile protector,” a likely reference to the administration’s handling of files on the late alleged sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The White House confirmed the video’s authenticity and defended the President’s reaction.
“A lunatic was wildly screaming expletives in a complete fit of rage, and the President gave an appropriate and unambiguous response,” White House Communications Director Steven Cheung told an international media outlet.
The Justice Department is facing scrutiny for failing to release the full set of unclassified Epstein files by the December 19, 2025 deadline set by a law signed by Trump. As of early January, only about one percent of the documents have been published.
Officials have said additional time is needed to ensure victims’ identities are protected.
Trump’s connections to Epstein date back to the 1980s. In a 2002 interview with New York magazine, Trump said Epstein was a “terrific guy” and noted he had known him for 15 years at that point. He also said, “it is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.”
Trump and Epstein were documented together at parties, events, and meetings in subsequent years. Trump has not been formally accused of any wrongdoing in his dealings with Epstein or knowledge of Epstein’s alleged crimes.
The autoworker who interacted with Trump was later suspended from his job pending an investigation, according to reports.
