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The Finance Base
crowdfunding

GoFundMe Campaign for Autoworker Who Got the Middle Finger From Trump Hit $450,000

The campaign for Ford autoworker TJ Sabula surpassed $450,000 in a January 14, 2026 report; a later GoFundMe page snapshot showed a higher total and paused donations.

By TheFinanceBase Team 2 min read
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Gizmodo reported on January 14, 2026, that the GoFundMe campaign for Ford autoworker TJ Sabula had raised more than $450,000. That was a snapshot from that day, not a verified current balance. A later-observed campaign page showed $480,685 raised toward an $800,000 goal, about 21,500 donations, and donations paused.

How much did TJ Sabula’s GoFundMe raise?

Gizmodo’s January 14, 2026 update put the campaign, titled “TJ Sabula is a patriot!!,” above $450,000. The Washington Post had reported an earlier figure of more than $150,000 as of Wednesday morning. These are dated snapshots from different points in the campaign, not conflicting totals. Gizmodo and The Washington Post reported those contemporaneous amounts.

A later-observed GoFundMe campaign page displayed $480,685 raised toward an $800,000 goal and approximately 21,500 donations. It also displayed “Donations paused.” Campaign totals and page status can change, so that figure describes the page as observed on October 3, 2026, rather than a guaranteed live total or an indication that donations are currently open.

Who organized the campaign?

The page lists Sean Williams as organizer and Thomas Sabula as beneficiary. It says the fundraiser was launched on Sabula’s behalf and later updated to say control had transferred to him.

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What happened at Ford’s Dearborn plant?

President Donald Trump visited Ford’s F-150 plant in Dearborn, Michigan, on January 13, 2026. Video showed Trump mouthing an expletive and raising his middle finger toward a heckler on the factory floor. The Washington Post identified the heckler as TJ Sabula, a 40-year-old UAW Local 600 line worker.

Sabula told the Post he had shouted “pedophile protector,” referring to Trump’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. He said he was suspended pending an investigation and told the newspaper, “As far as calling him out, definitely no regrets whatsoever.”

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How the White House and union responded

White House communications director Steven Cheung confirmed the video was authentic and defended Trump’s response. Cheung called the heckler “a lunatic” who was “wildly screaming expletives in a complete fit of rage,” and said the president’s response was appropriate. The Post’s account says the words audible in the video included “pedophile protector”; Cheung’s characterization is the White House’s response, not a neutral description.

UAW Ford Department head Laura Dickerson said workers should not face vulgar language or behavior from anyone, “including the President of the United States.” She said the union would support Sabula under negotiated contract protections. The cited coverage does not establish a final disciplinary or employment outcome.

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