Former President Donald Trump erupted in a profane and highly un-presidential outburst during a tour of a Ford manufacturing facility in Detroit, Michigan, on Tuesday, 13 January 2026.
Expletives and Obscene Gesture on Factory Floor
The incident unfolded when an individual, believed to be a member of staff, directed a verbal insult at the visiting former president, branding him a "paedophile protector". Trump, who was standing on a gangway overlooking the production area, did not take the criticism lightly.
In a moment captured by the press, Trump leaned over the railing, pointed directly at the man, and shouted, "Hey. F*** you." He repeated the expletive before proceeding down the walkway and making an obscene gesture, giving the man the middle finger.
Controversial Speech Follows Factory Confrontation
The extraordinary confrontation was followed shortly after by a speech Trump delivered to the Detroit Economic Club. His remarks were wide-ranging and included several inflammatory and legally dubious policy pronouncements.
He specifically targeted individuals of Somali origin, threatening to strip US citizenship from anyone convicted of fraud. This proposal would be illegal under current US law, which only permits revocation of citizenship under very narrow circumstances related to the citizenship process itself.
"If you come to America to rob Americans, we're throwing you in jail and we're sending you back to the country from where you came," Trump declared.
Vow to Cut Funding and 'Rediscover Native Spirit'
Aligning with rhetoric recently criticised as echoing white supremacist talking points, Trump spoke of deporting Somalis to help America return to its "native spirit". He stated, "As we liberate our country from this cultural scourge and the plague of corruption and fraud, we will rediscover the natural energy and native spirit that truly makes America great again."
He then turned his focus to so-called Sanctuary Cities, vowing to sever all federal funding to them. "We're not going to pay Minnesota any more money...for any of that crap," he said, suggesting a broad financial punishment.
"Because they do everything possible to protect criminals at the expense of American citizens," Trump argued, claiming such policies bring "fraud, crime, all of the other problems." He concluded, "So we're not making any payment to anybody that supports Sanctuary Cities."
The day's events, from the factory floor outburst to the controversial policy announcements, marked a significant and combative return to the campaign trail for the former president.
