An online fundraising campaign for a suspended Ford staffer, who was allegedly insulted by US President Donald Trump, has accumulated over $300,000 within a span of a few hours.

The staffer, identified as TJ Sabula, was termed a “patriot” by netizens even as he was suspended from his job for calling Trump a “paedophile protector” during the POTUS’ visit to Ford’s F-150 manufacturing facility in Detroit.

Sabula’s remarks were allegedly made in reference to Trump’s connection with deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Trump seemed to respond with obscene remarks and he even raised his middle finger, a viral video from the incident showed.

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Proceeds from fundraiser to go to his family

The fundraiser’s organiser said funds will be given to Sabula and his family “to cover their expenses”.

“I am in direct contact with TJ and we are discussing the donation beneficiary and how best to proceed. He is super grateful for everyone’s support and donations! I am working on transferring this donation project to TJ – for him to control directly,” the organiser said.

White House calls Sabula a ‘lunatic’, he says he was targeted

Reacting to the incident, Steven Cheung, the White House director of communications, told Newsweek Sabula is a “lunatic” who “was wildly screaming expletives in a complete fit of rage, and the President gave an appropriate and unambiguous response.”

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Sabula, on the other hand, has remarked that he was being “targeted for political retribution” and has no regrets on calling out Trump, who he said was “embarrassed in front of friends.”

“I don’t feel as though fate looks upon you often, and when it does, you better be ready to seize the opportunity, and today I think I did that,” Sabula told the Washington Post in an interview.

Sabula, who is married and has two children, also mentioned that he has never cast a vote for Trump, although he has supported other Republican candidates. He considers himself a political independent.