Video footage from a Michigan Ford plant shows President Trump apparently making a middle‑finger gesture and mouthing an expletive after someone shouted during a tour. TMZ reported the protester appeared to shout "pedophile protector," though the words are not fully clear on wider footage. The White House defended Trump’s reaction as "appropriate," while Ford said it does not condone inappropriate language and has procedures for addressing personnel matters. The encounter was captured in multiple video clips.
Trump Appears To Make Obscene Gesture During Ford Plant Tour; White House Calls Reaction 'Appropriate'
President Donald Trump visits a Ford production center in Michigan Tuesday. - Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
President Donald Trump appeared to make an obscene hand gesture toward a worker while touring a Ford plant in Michigan, an exchange captured on multiple videos that surfaced Tuesday.
What The Videos Show
A 30‑second clip obtained by TMZ shows an individual shouting in the president’s direction as Trump walks through part of the factory. The exact words shouted are difficult to discern on the wider-angle footage; TMZ reported the person appeared to yell "pedophile protector."
The footage shows Trump pointing toward the factory floor several times as he continues the tour, then appearing to make a middle-finger gesture with his right hand at someone on the floor. A second, tighter shot of the interaction similarly shows an exchange in which Trump points and seems to mouth or say "fuck you" twice.
Responses
White House: "A lunatic was wildly screaming expletives in a complete fit of rage, and the President gave an appropriate and unambiguous response," said White House Communications Director Steven Cheung.
Ford: "We had a great event today and we’re proud of how our employees represented Ford," David Tovar, Ford’s executive director of corporate communications, said. "We’ve seen the clip you’re referring to. One of our core values is respect and we don’t condone anyone saying anything inappropriate like that within our facilities. When that happens, we have a process to deal with it but we don’t get into specific personnel matters."
Context And Notes
The incident occurred during a public tour and was recorded from at least two angles; the video released by TMZ is the primary public source for the exchange. The exact words exchanged are not independently verified beyond what appears in the clips and TMZ’s reporting. Both the White House and Ford issued short statements addressing the moment.
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