The US president has faced harsh criticism over transparency on the Epstein files

US President Donald Trump has been filmed raising his middle finger and appearing to mouth "f**k you" at a Ford autoworker who heckled him during a factory visit near Detroit. The insult was linked to the controversy over the Epstein files, which Trump has sought to play down after previously promising transparency.

The confrontation happened on Tuesday at Ford's F-150 assembly plant in Dearborn, Michigan, after a worker shouted "pedophile protector." According to a video circulating on the social media, Trump turned toward the worker, uttered several expletives, and briefly flipped off the heckler.

White House communications director Steven Cheung did not comment on whether Trump had actually raised his middle finger, but confirmed the authenticity of the video. "A lunatic was wildly screaming expletives in a complete fit of rage, and the president gave an appropriate and unambiguous response," Cheung said in a statement to the Washington Post.

The worker, TJ Sabula, a 40-year-old United Auto Workers Local 600 line worker who described himself to the WaPo as an independent and occasional Republican supporter, said he has been suspended pending an investigation, adding that he felt no remorse.

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"As far as calling him out, definitely no regrets whatsoever," Sabula said, adding that he believes he was "targeted for political retribution" for "embarrassing Trump in front of his friends." 

The taunt appeared to be tied to the ongoing political storm over the files of disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who is said to have died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. His death spawned widespread conspiracy theories claiming he had been killed to prevent testimony about alleged crimes involving powerful figures.

On the campaign trail, Trump promised to release the Epstein files, but as president he has bristled at the issue, dismissing calls to make the documents public as a politically motivated "hoax."

The controversy intensified after the US president's name appeared in Epstein-related material, with no allegations of wrongdoing. Later, amid sustained public pressure, the Justice Department released a batch of Epstein-related documents that were heavily redacted, prompting criticism over the scope and pace of disclosure.