Stephen Colbert Backs Auto Worker After Trump Outburst, Praises ‘Precise Language’

Late-night host Stephen Colbert came to the defense of a Ford auto worker after a heated exchange with Donald Trump, applauding the man for what he called carefully chosen words.

During Wednesday night’s monologue on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Colbert addressed a viral moment from Trump’s visit to a Ford Motor Company plant. The incident occurred when auto worker TJ Sabula shouted “pedophile protector” at the president, prompting Trump to respond with an f-bomb and an obscene hand gesture.

Colbert opened the segment with humor, joking that Trump may have just introduced a “new national bird” after flipping Sabula off on camera. He then compared the moment to what he called one of the crudest public reactions ever seen from a U.S. leader, quipping that it was the most hostile display since Herbert Hoover—followed by an exaggerated fictional slogan for comedic effect.

As the monologue continued, Colbert praised Sabula for getting “under Trump’s skin,” using a food metaphor to emphasize how deeply the remark appeared to land. According to Colbert, the outburst was triggered by renewed attention on the still-unreleased files connected to Jeffrey Epstein, which Trump had previously promised would be made public under a signed law.

Colbert stressed that this context mattered. He explained that while calling someone a “pedophile” would be an unverified accusation, the phrase “pedophile protector” was, in his view, more defensible given the continued delay in releasing the files. That distinction, Colbert said, showed “precision” and “attention to detail.”

“He could have shouted something much broader,” Colbert joked, “but he didn’t—and that kind of careful wording is exactly what you want in a pickup truck.”

The comedian then tied the moment back to Ford, joking about the company’s reputation for craftsmanship while adding a tongue-in-cheek line about its values. He ended the segment by noting reports that Sabula has been suspended pending an internal investigation.

Still, Colbert downplayed the severity of the incident, closing with one last jab: yelling something true at Trump, he said, is far from the worst thing to happen at a Ford plant—pointing instead to the infamous Pinto as the real low point.

The moment has continued to circulate online, fueling debate over free speech in the workplace, presidential conduct, and the unresolved questions surrounding the Epstein files.