Overview
- Video from the Ford River Rouge complex showed President Trump raising his middle finger toward a heckler during Tuesday’s walkthrough.
- Clips circulated widely on TikTok and X and were published by TMZ, driving rapid attention to the exchange.
- White House communications director Steven Cheung confirmed the incident and defended it as a direct response to personal insults.
- Reporters said the worker yelled “pedophile protector,” a claim linked in coverage to the Jeffrey Epstein records controversy and not officially substantiated in transcripts.
- Ford’s communications executive said the company promotes respect in its facilities and has internal processes to address inappropriate conduct.