Global Edition
Global Edition
UK Edition
EU Edition
US Edition

Understand the story, not the spin.

Markets

Trump Flips Off Heckler at Detroit Ford Plant

Published 13 January 2026

President Donald Trump responded to a heckler with an obscene gesture during a tour of a Ford F-150 assembly plant in Detroit, Michigan, on Tuesday, amid a visit aimed at promoting domestic manufacturing.

The incident unfolded as Trump observed operations from an elevated platform overlooking the factory floor. An unidentified worker shouted "pedophile protector" at the president, a reference to Trump's past association with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, who was convicted of sex crimes and died in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges. Video footage, first published by TMZ, captured Trump pointing toward the heckler, mouthing what appeared to be "f you," and extending his middle finger before walking away. The exchange was not immediately visible to members of the White House press pool traveling with Trump.

White House communications director Steven Cheung confirmed the authenticity of the video and defended the president's actions. "A lunatic was wildly screaming expletives in a complete fit of rage, and the President gave an appropriate and unambiguous response," Cheung said in a statement. The visit otherwise featured positive moments, including...

Now playing
0:00 / 0:00