US President Donald Trump yelled at a Ford factory worker to “F*** off” and flipped his middle finger after the worker called the president a “pedophile protector,” referencing the Epstein affair, on Tuesday.
The interaction occurred during Trump’s visit to the automaker’s Detroit, Michigan, plant. The administration later defended the president’s reaction, saying the man had yelled incessantly and with anger, and that Trump’s reply was appropriate.
According to the White House, the worker “screamed non-stop in rage,” prompting Trump to raise his middle finger and say “go f*** yourself.” Officials said the president was provoked and acted within reason.
Trump traveled to Detroit on Tuesday for a campaign-style tour and address at Ford. He used the speech to pivot to foreign policy, touching on protests in Iran and US pressure on the regime.
Opening his remarks, Trump said he intended to continue “the path of eliminating Soleimani, the turnaround in Venezuela, and the rollout at Ford,” tying past actions to current aims.
Trump urged Iranian protesters to continue demonstrations
Addressing “all Iranian patriots,” he urged demonstrators to keep protesting and seize state institutions, adding that he had canceled meetings until the killing of protesters stops. He said Iran “was a great country” until “these monsters came,” in his words.
Upon returning to Washington, Trump went directly to the Oval Office with a document in hand, a departure from the usual route through the residence, according to accounts of his arrival. Vice President JD Vance convened an additional situation assessment with national security advisers at the White House, and Trump later joined the discussions.
Asked by reporters after landing in Washington how he could assure that any potential airstrikes would protect Iranian protesters, Trump replied, “You never know, right? You never know. So far, my record has been excellent.”
Pressed again on Iranian threats to retaliate against any US action, the president said Tehran had issued similar warnings “the last time, when I blew up their nuclear capability, which they no longer have,” and added, “They had better behave.”