EASTLAKE, Ohio – After nearly two decades crafting brass instruments, 62-year-old Keith Czika watched his workplace prepare to shut its doors forever, with production heading overseas to China. The longtime employee at the Conn Selmer facility thought he had found a potential lifeline through the plant’s billionaire owner, John Paulson, who happens to be a key supporter of President Donald Trump.
As a three-time Trump supporter, Czika pitched an idea to his union coworkers in January: publicly challenge Paulson by connecting the factory closure to Trump’s campaign promises about bringing manufacturing jobs back to America. Paulson had previously spoken out against companies that move operations offshore during the 2024 election cycle.
However, the United Auto Workers’ public pressure campaign – featuring a community rally where local leaders criticized Paulson, social media content, and a White House petition requesting Trump’s involvement – could not prevent the shutdown. The Eastlake facility will close its doors at the end of June, resulting in 150 lost positions.
According to CEO John Fulton’s January announcement to employees, Conn Selmer – America’s top band instrument manufacturer – plans to relocate production of tubas, sousaphones, and certain French horns to China, representing virtually the entire output of the Ohio location.
This unsuccessful campaign demonstrates the limited influence that blue-collar employees – a crucial segment of Trump’s voter base – possess, even when their concerns align with his populist America First platform.
The situation also reveals potential electoral challenges for Republicans approaching November’s midterm elections. Trump and his supporters face difficulties maintaining the voter coalition that secured his 2024 victory. The president’s approval numbers have declined due to elevated costs, an unpopular conflict in Iran, and public criticism of Pope Leo, who maintains support among many Catholic Trump voters.
“Why Paulson would make the decision to go to China is beyond me at this point. China, for one, is an economic enemy of the United States,” Czika stated.
Czika’s frustration with Paulson mirrors broader concerns among working-class Americans regarding economic trends and their role within them. Manufacturing jobs in the United States have decreased by approximately 100,000 positions since Trump took office in January 2025, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics information.
The White House has not provided a response to requests for comment.
During conversations with Reuters, twelve Conn Selmer employees expressed feelings of loss regarding positions they valued, creating and finishing instruments used by musicians ranging from school bands to professional performers. They worried about finding equally satisfying or well-compensated work.
Conn Selmer, which chose not to comment for this report, released a January statement indicating it would transfer professional French horn manufacturing from Eastlake to an existing Indiana facility while remaining “deeply committed to U.S. manufacturing.” The statement referenced moving remaining instrument production “offshore” without specifically mentioning China.
Republican Lake County Commissioner John Plecnik, whose district includes Eastlake, cautioned that his party could lose union worker support before November’s elections.
“MAGA equals put American jobs first,” Plecnik explained. “If we don’t keep the promise of protecting jobs, I wouldn’t blame them for going right back and voting Democrat.”
Among six workers who told Reuters they supported Trump in 2024, five indicated they would continue backing Republican candidates in November. Only one said her frustration over the closure would likely cause her to avoid voting in the upcoming election.
Paulson served a crucial role in Trump’s 2024 campaign, organizing a Palm Beach fundraiser in April that generated approximately $50.5 million. Months later, he publicly supported a central message of Trump’s populist campaign.
“We can’t have American producers closing American factories and offshoring. We need to protect American jobs and protect American manufacturing,” Paulson told CNBC in September 2024.
Paulson’s investment company controls Steinway Musical Instruments, which owns Conn Selmer. He has not responded to comment requests.
During campaign events, Trump promised that manufacturing growth would “happen fast and beautifully,” and when he implemented comprehensive tariffs on trading partners last April, he predicted they would cause factories to “come roaring back.”
Despite a 20.4% tariff on Chinese-manufactured brass instruments, Conn Selmer has not been discouraged from following competitors who relocated production to China years earlier to reduce labor expenses.
During the January meeting, CEO Fulton informed workers they needed to identify $13 million in cost reductions to preserve the facility.
By mid-March, employees gathered in a poorly lit American Legion hall to receive information about their severance benefits.
For Annette Dombrowski, who had celebrated her wedding in that same venue 43 years ago, the plant’s closure carried deep personal significance. Following the severance briefing, she struggled with tears while discussing her concerns about finding employment to supplement Social Security benefits strained by ongoing inflation.
“I think all of America is crap right now,” said the 64-year-old custodian. “I’m starting to regret my vote for Trump,” she added, noting she would probably abstain from November voting.
Czika maintains that tariffs could eventually help restore American manufacturing, which he believes can compete on quality even if not matching China’s labor costs. He emphasized that while his Trump support remains strong, it comes with conditions.
“If you keep your promises, that’ll be fine,” he said. “If you don’t, that’ll be a problem. America First. Bring manufacturing back.”
