{"id":2536674,"date":"2026-01-14T16:21:01","date_gmt":"2026-01-14T21:21:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/uaw-backs-detroit-worker-whom-trump-flipped-off\/"},"modified":"2026-01-14T16:23:11","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T21:23:11","slug":"uaw-backs-detroit-worker-whom-trump-flipped-off","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/uaw-backs-detroit-worker-whom-trump-flipped-off\/","title":{"rendered":"UAW backs Detroit worker whom Trump flipped off"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fuaw-backs-detroit-worker-whom-trump-flipped-off%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2536674&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>UAW officials defended 40-year-old Ford worker TJ Sabula after he heckled President Trump during a Tuesday tour of the Ford River Rouge complex in Dearborn and was afterward suspended. Sabula called Trump a &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hack-politico-reporter-who-smeared-pope-benedict-after-his-death-is-out-of-a-job\/\" title=\"Hack Politico Reporter Who Smeared Pope Benedict After His Death Is Out of a Job\">pedophile protector<\/a>,&#8221; referencing ties to Jeffrey Epstein, and video released by TMZ shows the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-taking-regeneron-drug-remdesivir-therapy-for-coronavirus-diagnosis-ex-wh-doctor-explains\/\" title=\"Trump taking Regeneron drug, Remdesivir therapy for coronavirus diagnosis: ex-WH doctor explains\">president<\/a> flipping him off and mouthing what appeared to be &#8220;f&#8212; you&#8221; twice.UAW Vice President Laura Dickerson framed Sabula&#8217;s actions as protected free speech, said workers shouldn&#8217;t have to endure vulgar behavior from anyone (including the president), and warned the union will file a grievance if Ford does not rescind the suspension. Ford said it does not condone inappropriate remarks, Sabula said he has &#8220;no regrets&#8221; and feels targeted for political retribution, and GoFundMe campaigns for him have raised over $190,000 while the suspension remains under review.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">UAW backs Detroit worker whom Trump flipped off<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2473102\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/unions\/\">United Auto Workers<\/a> issued a statement on Wednesday defending a Michigan member who heckled President<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\"> Donald Trump<\/a> during a visit to a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ford\/\">Ford plant<\/a> earlier this week.<\/p>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4418088\/ford-worker-suspended-heckling-trump-no-regrets\/\">confrontation occurred<\/a> on Tuesday when Trump was touring the Ford River Rouge complex in Dearborn. According to the union, the worker, identified as 40-year-old TJ Sabula, was suspended following the incident.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/business\/4417965\/trump-robots-big-factor-ford-vacancies\/\">Trump hypes robots as &#8216;big factor&#8217; as Ford struggles to fill thousands of vacancies<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/business\/4417515\/wall-street-powell-doj-investigation\/\">Wall Street executives back Powell as DOJ investigates Fed chairman: &#8216;Not a good idea&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/business\/4416666\/new-york-set-records-sports-betting-2025\/\">New York set records for sports betting in 2025 with $26.3 billion in wagers<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/uaw-newsroom.prgloo.com\/press-release\/statement-on-ford-plant-visit-from-vp-laura-dickerson-ford-department-director\">UAW Vice President Laura Dickerson<\/a>&nbsp;categorized the action as freedom of speech and said the union &ldquo;wholeheartedly embraces<\/span>&rdquo; the principle.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Workers should never be subjected to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gop-rep-maces-charleston-home-vandalized-with-antifa-symbols\/\" title=\"GOP Rep. Mace&#039;s Charleston Home Vandalized With &#039;Antifa Symbols&#039;\">vulgar language<\/a> or behavior by anyone&mdash;including the President of the United States,&rdquo; Dickerson said in the statement.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>During the exchange, Sabula reportedly called the president a &ldquo;pedophile protector,&rdquo; a reference he said was to Trump&rsquo;s past ties to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and the Trump administration&rsquo;s handling of related files.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Trump responded by flipping off the worker and mouthing what appeared to be &ldquo;f*** you&rdquo; twice, an interaction captured in a video released by TMZ.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Despite the suspension, Sabula told the <em>Washington Post <\/em>that he has &ldquo;no regrets&rdquo; about his actions and felt he was &ldquo;targeted for political retribution.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Sabula&rsquo;s suspension remains under review by Ford management. Union representatives indicated they are prepared to file a grievance if the disciplinary action is not rescinded, arguing that Sabula&rsquo;s conduct, while confrontational, did not violate safety protocols or standard workplace conduct policies.<\/p>\n<p>While Ford spokesman David Tovar said the company does not &ldquo;condone anyone saying anything inappropriate,&rdquo; two GoFundMe fundraisers for Sabula have already raised over $190,000.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4418636\/minnesota-faces-doj-lawsuit-alleging-discrimination-dei-hiring-practices\/\"><strong>MINNESOTA FACES DOJ LAWSUIT ALLEGING DISCRIMINATION AND DEI HIRING PRACTICES<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Dickerson indicated in her statement that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/these-21-states-are-opting-out-of-enhanced-unemployment-benefits-heres-what-you-need-to-know\/\" title=\"These 21 States Are Opting Out Of Enhanced Unemployment Benefits. Here\u2019s What You Need To Know.\">union representatives<\/a> are prepared to file a grievance if disciplinary action is not rescinded.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The UAW will ensure that our member receives the full protection of all <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >negotiated contract language safeguarding<\/a> his job and his rights as a union member,&rdquo; she said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>UAW defends Detroit worker after Trump&#8217;s gesture<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4130,"featured_media":2536675,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP26013651506084.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[50410,5897,3634,25982,4701],"class_list":["post-2536674","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-controversy-2","tag-detroit","tag-trump","tag-uaw","tag-union"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP26013651506084.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2536674","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4130"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2536674"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2536674\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2536678,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2536674\/revisions\/2536678"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2536675"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2536674"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2536674"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2536674"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}