Suspended Dearborn Ford Worker Thomas Sabula Receives Over $320K After Trump Snub
DEARBORN, Mich. — A suspended Ford Motor Company employee has drawn national attention after a confrontation with former President Donald Trump during a visit to a Dearborn assembly plant, an incident that sparked widespread public support and led to more than $324,000 being raised for his family through an online fundraiser.
The employee, Thomas “TJ” Sabula, is a 40-year-old member of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 600. He was placed on suspension pending the outcome of an internal investigation following an exchange that occurred while Trump was touring the manufacturing facility.
According to video footage later obtained and published by TMZ, an off-camera voice can be heard shouting a remark at the former president, which appeared to reference the administration’s handling of documents connected to the Jeffrey Epstein case.
In the video, Trump is seen appearing to mouth an expletive and making a hand gesture before walking away from the scene.
The Washington Post later identified Sabula as the individual who made the remark during the encounter.
In an interview with the newspaper, Sabula confirmed that he was suspended following the incident and said he believes the decision represents political retaliation.
He told The Post that while he does not regret speaking out, he is concerned about his employment and feels he was targeted for embarrassing Trump in front of others present at the event.
Sabula described himself as politically independent, noting that he has never voted for Trump, although he has supported Republican candidates in the past.
Shortly after the incident, a GoFundMe campaign was launched to support Sabula and his family while he remains suspended from work.
The fundraiser describes Sabula as a father of two young children, a husband, and a UAW Local 600 line worker. The campaign states that the donated funds will be used to help cover household and living expenses during what it calls a period of uncertainty.
Donations quickly surpassed $100,000 and continued to rise, with reports indicating that the punk rock band Dropkick Murphys was among those who contributed.
Supporters have framed Sabula’s actions as an expression of protest and free speech, while critics have questioned whether his conduct violated workplace policies.
Ford Motor Company and union representatives have not released details regarding the internal investigation or indicated whether additional disciplinary action may follow.
After leaving the Dearborn facility, Trump later delivered remarks at the Detroit Economic Club, marking his first appearance there since October 2024.
The incident remains part of a broader national conversation surrounding workplace discipline, political expression, and the limits of free speech in employment settings.
