Donald Trump screams at man who called him ‘pedophile protector’ with explicit response
The incident followed comments made by actor Mark Ruffalo, who labeled Donald Trump a “pedophile” during the Golden Globes on January 11. Days later, tensions spilled into a public confrontation involving the former president.
On January 13, Trump toured a Ford F-150 plant during an event hosted by the Detroit Economic Club. Video later obtained by TMZ captured a worker shouting at Trump while he walked the factory floor.
Although the full remark was unclear, TMZ reported that it included the phrase “pedophile protector.” The comment appeared to reference Trump’s past association with Jeffrey Epstein, connections Trump has repeatedly acknowledged but denied involved any wrongdoing.
Amid growing public frustration over the slow release of Epstein-related documents, the moment quickly escalated. In the footage, Trump is seen responding with an expletive and an obscene gesture toward the heckler.
The White House defended Trump’s reaction. Communications Director Steven Cheung described the individual as unstable and said the president’s response was direct and justified.
Social media reaction was swift and polarized. Some users mocked Trump’s behavior as unpresidential, while others expressed disbelief or joked about how easily he appeared to be provoked.
The episode followed renewed criticism from Ruffalo, who questioned Trump’s character during the Golden Globes. Cheung later fired back online, attacking Ruffalo personally and dismissing his remarks as dishonest and self-serving.
