People Collect Money for Ford Worker Who Heckled Trump

A Ford Motor Company employee who called Donald Trump a “pedophile protector” during the former president’s visit to a Ford F-150 factory in Dearborn, Michigan, has drawn overwhelming public support — including a rapidly growing pile of donations on GoFundMe. The fundraising effort sprang up shortly after the incident went viral online.

Viral Heckling Sparks Massive Public Support Online

The worker, identified as 40-year-old TJ Sabula, was suspended from his job after the clash with Trump, which included video footage showing the president responding with a raised middle finger and an expletive (which Trump’s team later defended as an “appropriate response”). Sabula has stated he has “no regrets” about calling out the president over how the Epstein files were handled, even as he faces potential disciplinary consequences at work.

Fundraising Explodes Across Multiple Campaigns

Immediately after the incident on January 13, supporters set up multiple GoFundMe campaigns to help Sabula cover expenses while suspended and support his family during a period of financial uncertainty. What began as relatively small fundraisers quickly ballooned into a viral grassroots effort.

One of the main campaigns — organized by Sean Williams — features a message calling Sabula a “patriot” and urging donors to help him “pay bills and force Trump to release the Epstein files.” As of mid-January 14, that campaign alone had raised well over $480,000, with discussions underway to transfer the fundraiser directly into Sabula’s control.

Meanwhile, another separate GoFundMe set up by a longtime friend of the Sabula family had raised nearly $330,000 from thousands of donors, making the total amount raised across the different pages soar toward — and past — the $800,000 mark within 24 hours of the fundraisers launching.

Both fundraisers have attracted contributions from a broad base of supporters, with many posting comments lauding Sabula’s act of speaking his mind and showing solidarity with his decision to confront the president publicly.

Sabula’s Reaction and Requests to Pause Donations

In the wake of the surge in donations, Sabula reportedly expressed gratitude for the overwhelming public support. According to separate reporting, he later asked supporters to pause further donations, suggesting that the amount raised had reached more than enough to cover his immediate needs and that future funds might be better directed to other causes.

This development — asking to halt new contributions — highlights how rapidly the situation evolved, with both campaigns achieving large fundraising totals in an exceptionally short time.

Why This Became a Flashpoint

The fundraising frenzy reflects how a single viral video clip — in this case, Sabula’s outburst and Trump’s response — can quickly turn into a broader political flashpoint. The phrase “pedophile protector” referenced by Sabula was interpreted by many online as a critique of Trump’s handling of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, the late convicted sex offender whose document releases have been controversial.

Supporters of Sabula have framed the fundraising as not only a show of solidarity with a worker potentially facing lost wages but also as part of broader calls for accountability and transparency around high-profile political issues. Others have simply viewed it as a way to support someone who spoke out despite the potential personal cost.

Broader Reaction and Debate

The rapid growth of these fundraisers has also sparked debate online. Some commentators see the donations as a tribute to free speech and worker rights, while others have criticized the narrative around the incident or raised questions about whether the public reaction may have outpaced the facts of what happened in the factory.

Whatever the long-term outcome for Sabula’s employment or the political discourse, the fundraising response underscores how digital platforms can rapidly amplify moments that resonate emotionally or politically across social media.

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