WASHINGTON: US president Donald Trump was caught on camera in a tense confrontation with a Ford Motor Company worker during a visit to a manufacturing plant in Michigan this week, after the worker allegedly shouted “pedophile protector” at him, video circulating online shows.
Footage first published by the entertainment website TMZ shows Trump pausing on an elevated walkway as someone in the crowd yells at him from the factory floor. Trump then appears to mouth an expletive and briefly raises his middle finger in the direction of the individual before continuing to wave at other workers.
The incident occurred during Trump’s tour of the Ford F-150 assembly facility in Dearborn. The White House did not dispute the authenticity of the video.
“A lunatic was wildly screaming expletives in a complete fit of rage, and the President gave an appropriate and unambiguous response,” White House spokesman Steven Cheung said in an emailed statement to Reuters.
Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford later described the incident as unfortunate but downplayed its significance.
“That was six seconds out of an hour tour. And the tour went great,” Ford said. “I think he really enjoyed it and we did too.”
Trump has faced ongoing scrutiny over his handling of sensitive federal records related to Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender who died by suicide in jail in 2019. Some of Trump’s supporters believe the government is withholding documents that could expose Epstein’s connections to powerful figures.
Trump has repeatedly denied any knowledge of Epstein’s alleged sex trafficking activities and has not been accused of wrongdoing.
The Michigan visit was part of Trump’s broader effort to emphasize support for US manufacturing, a central theme of his economic messaging as the 2026 election cycle approaches. Michigan remains a politically critical state, with domestic jobs and industrial investment playing a key role in campaign outreach.