The incident that occurred during US President Donald Trump's visit to the Ford truck plant in Michigan caused a great resonance on social media. Factory worker Thomas Sabula shouted "pedophile defender" at Trump during the visit, and Trump responded by raising his middle finger at him.
Musavat.com reports that after the incident, Sabula was sent on unpaid leave.
He said he was worried that the US president might take revenge on him, but he added, "I am not sorry, when the opportunity comes, you have to seize it."
The United Automobile Workers (UAW) union criticized Sabula's unpaid leave. Laura Dickerson, vice president of UAW's Ford division, emphasized that workers should not be subjected to rude behavior by anyone – including the President.
Two separate GoFundMe campaigns organized for Sabula after the incident raised approximately $480,000 and $329,000. The campaigns were later halted, and it was announced that the collected donations would be used for the family's daily expenses and support during the period of uncertainty.
Sabula is a father of two, and the union defends his freedom of speech. In campaign statements, it was stated that his colleague, he, and his wife earn their living through their jobs at Ford, and that the collected funds would be used to cover expenses.
The incident became a trending topic on social media and Trump's reaction sparked widespread discussions.
