GoFundMe campaign for Ford worker TJ Sabula quickly tops $90K in latest politically charged fundraiser

A GoFundMe page is raising thousands to support a worker at the Ford Rouge Plant in Dearborn, Michigan, after he openly criticized President Trump—to his face.

The worker, identified in media reports as TJ Sabula, heckled Trump while he was visiting the plant on January 13. In a video obtained by TMZ, Sabula can be heard calling the president a “pedophile protector.” In response, the president can be seen mouthing an expletive and telling Sabula “you’re fired” before flipping him off.

Ford reportedly didn’t hesitate to act, with the automotive giant immediately suspending Sabula, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Fast Company reached out to Ford for comment.

Predictably, and almost just as fast, a GoFundMe page was launched in support of Sabula.

“TJ is a father of two young children, husband, and is a proud United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 600 line worker,” the page reads. “Funds donated will support TJ and his family to cover expenses during this time of uncertainty.”

At present, the fundraising page, which has only been live for about 11 hours, has raised more than $90,000.

Given that GoFundMe and other crowdfunding platforms are increasingly relied upon to help people going through financial challenges—sometimes spurred by political events—it’s not the first time the site has made headlines recently.

Less than a week ago, after 37-year-old Renee Good was shot by an ICE agent in her neighborhood, a fundraiser was launched to support her family. The page has amassed over $1.5 million.

Additionally, a page for Jonathan Ross, the ICE agent who shot and killed Good, was also created. That page has raised $700,000 at present, including a $10,000 donation from billionaire Bill Ackman.

Fast Company has reached out to GoFundMe to ask if it has verified the campaign for Sabula.

Engine troubles

Sabula’s suspension is not terribly surprising. While Ford Motor CEO Jim Farley and the president have had a complicated relationship at times, Farley has also expressed optimism about Trump’s second term.

He joined President Trump in December when he announced a proposal to slash Biden-era fuel economy standards. Ford also donated $1 million in cash and a fleet of vehicles to the president’s January 2025 inauguration.

Following his suspension, Sabula told The Washington Post that he has “no regrets whatsoever” about heckling the president. He added that Trump was only standing about 60 feet away and heard him “very, very, very clearly.”