A brass-instrument factory in Eastlake, Ohio, is closing by the end of June, eliminating 150 jobs and shifting production to China — exposing a gap between President Donald Trump's "America First" manufacturing promises and the business decisions of his political allies.
Conn Selmer, the country's largest band-instrument maker, announced it will move production of tubas, sousaphones and some French horns overseas to China despite the public statements by billionaire plant owner John Paulson, who raised about $50.5 million for Trump's 2024 campaign and publicly committed to protecting U.S. manufacturing, reported Reuters.
"We can't have American producers closing American factories and offshoring," Paulson told CNBC in September 2024. "We need to protect American jobs and protect American manufacturing."
Keith Czika, a 62-year-old who worked at the facility for nearly 18 years, led a campaign with union colleagues to pressure Paulson, hoping to leverage the company owner's relationship with Trump, but that strategy failed to prevent the closure.
"Why Paulson would make the decision to go to China is beyond me at this point," Czika said. "China, for one, is an economic enemy of the United States."
U.S. manufacturing employment has fallen by approximately 100,000 jobs since Trump's inauguration in January 2025, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Meanwhile, a 20.4 percent tariff on Chinese-made brass instruments has not deterred Conn Selmer, which cited the need to find $13 million in savings to remain competitive.
Annette Dombrowski, a 64-year-old janitor who had been married in the same American Legion hall where workers received severance briefings, fought back tears discussing her anxiety about finding work to supplement her Social Security income.
"I think all of America is c--- right now," Dombrowski said. "I'm starting to regret my vote for Trump."
Republican Lake County Commissioner John Plecnik warned his party risks losing working-class support ahead of November midterms.
"If we don't keep the promise of protecting jobs, I wouldn't blame them for going right back and voting Democrat," he said.
Dombrowski said she would probably sit out November's election, but five of the six other Trump-voting workers interviewed by Reuters said they would still support GOP candidates, and Czika said his support for the president remained strong – with some conditions.
"If you keep your promises, that'll be fine," Czika said. "If you don't, that'll be a problem. America First. Bring manufacturing back."