Tens of thousands of dollars have been raised for an autoworker at a Ford plant in Michigan who was suspended without pay for questioning Donald Trump.
TJ Sabra is said to have called the president a “pedophile protector” during a visit to the auto giant’s Red River complex on Tuesday.
Trump appeared to give Sabra his middle finger, according to a video posted by celebrity news and gossip site TMZ, which claimed Trump yelled an expletive before making the gesture.
Related: Trump gives heckler the middle finger during tour of Michigan Ford plant
In an interview with The Washington Post, Sabra said he had “absolutely no regrets as far as naming him.” But he said he was worried about his job security after the incident, claiming he had been “targeted for political retaliation” and “embarrassed Trump in front of his friends.”
“I don’t think fate is on your side very often and when it comes, you better be ready to take advantage of it,” Sabra added in the interview. “Today I think I did it.”
A GoFundMe was created for him to help offset lost income due to the suspension. As of Wednesday morning, the campaign had raised more than $70,000, with reported donors including the band Dropkick Murphy’s.
“TJ is a father of two young children, a husband, and a proud UAW Local 600 line worker. Donated funds will support TJ and his family with expenses during this uncertain time,” the GoFundMe campaign states.
Ford did not immediately respond to a request for comment. White House communications director Steven Chang did not confirm whether Trump raised his middle finger, but argued in a statement to the Guardian that the president gave an “appropriate and clear response” when “a lunatic screamed and cursed in anger.”
Trump has been touring the Ford Complex ahead of a speech at the Economic Club of Detroit.
