Trump seen flipping off Ford factory worker in viral video - What angered US president?

US President Donald Trump was caught on video at a Michigan auto plant on Tuesday seemingly flipping off a factory employee and swearing at them after they questioned his response to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, Reuters reported.

The footage of the encounter was first released by entertainment outlet TMZ, and the White House did not dispute its authenticity, Reuters reported.

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“A lunatic was wildly screaming expletives in a complete fit of rage, and the President gave an appropriate and unambiguous response,” White House spokesman Steven Cheung told Reuters in an email.

Trump faced the worker and seemingly reacted with a profanity, raising his middle finger before walking away.

Meanwhile, the rest of the Ford employees greeted him enthusiastically, taking photos, shaking hands, and cheering as he toured the assembly line, Reuters reported.

Trump has faced persistent scrutiny for his handling of sensitive federal records tied to Epstein, a convicted sex offender who died by suicide in jail in 2019. Many of Trump's most loyal supporters believe the government is withholding documents that would reveal the late financier's ties to powerful public figures, Reuters reported.

Trump has repeatedly denied any knowledge of Epstein's alleged abuse and sex trafficking of girls and has not been accused of wrongdoing.

Trump’s visit to the Michigan facility was part of an effort to highlight his administration’s support for U.S. manufacturing, a key theme as the 2026 election year unfolds.

Michigan is seen as a politically important state, and domestic jobs and industry have been central to Trump’s economic messaging.

(With inputs from Reuters)