The White House issued a statement calling the heckler a "lunatic" who was "wildly screaming expletives in a complete fit of rage," adding that the president gave an "appropriate and unambiguous response." The incident occurred while Trump was visiting the Ford plant in Michigan, a key state in the upcoming election, to tout American manufacturing and the company's efforts to produce ventilators.
The heckler, whose identity has not been officially released, was suspended by Ford, according to the United Auto Workers union, which spoke to CBS News, the BBC's US partner. A Ford spokesperson told CBS that "one of our core values is respect and we don't condone anyone saying anything inappropriate like that within our facilities." The spokesperson added that the company has a process to deal with such incidents but would not comment on specific personnel matters.
The incident quickly went viral, igniting social media and cable news. The gesture, while brief, has become a flashpoint in the ongoing culture wars, with some defending Trump's right to respond to what they see as disrespectful behavior, while others criticize the president for conduct unbecoming of his office.
Within 24 hours of the incident, two separate GoFundMe pages have raised nearly $700,000 (£521,000) for the heckler from more than 27,000 donors, demonstrating the strong feelings the incident has provoked. The outpouring of support highlights the deep divisions within American society and the intense emotions surrounding the Trump presidency. The incident also raises questions about the role of protest and free speech in the current political climate.
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