【By Observer Net, Qi Qian】

According to the UK's The Guardian on February 16, as one of President Trump's supporters on Wall Street, American billionaire John Paulson plans to close a manufacturing plant in Ohio and outsource most of its operations to China. The factory workers strongly oppose this move, calling it "a slap in the face," as Paulson had publicly defended domestic manufacturing.

The factory workers have called on Trump to intervene in the matter, but the White House has not responded to multiple requests for comment so far.

According to reports, Paulson's company, Conn Selmer, the largest manufacturer of brass musical instruments and orchestral instruments in the United States, has informed the union that it plans to outsource most of its operations at its Eastlake, Ohio factory to China by June 2026.

It is reported that this plan will eliminate 150 jobs at the Eastlake factory.

The UAW Local 2359, representing these 150 employees, said that last month, when the workers sat down to negotiate a new union contract, they were first informed about the closure.

"We came with a complete proposal, fully prepared for negotiations, but they gave us a presentation right from the start, telling us how bad we were," said Robert Hines, the local union president and a factory worker. The company told them there would be no negotiation, and the factory would close.

The workers say the outsourcing is an attack on the union. They say that Conn Selmer opened a factory in China last year and gradually moved business there, despite being told that the new factory would not affect the production in Ohio.

"But almost immediately, they started taking parts from certain product lines," Hines pointed out.

Hines said that Paulson had previously positioned himself as an advocate for domestic manufacturing, and the outsourcing plan would be a great insult to local workers. He mentioned, "(Paulson) publicly supported the Trump administration's tariffs on TV programs, then turned around and said he would send jobs to China. That's a slap in the face to us."

Video screenshot from 2016, Trump (right) attended the same event with Paulson

The report mentions that like Trump, Paulson once openly criticized offshoring. He stated in an interview in September 2024, "We cannot allow American manufacturers to close American factories and outsource. We need to protect American jobs and American manufacturing."

According to reports, in early February, the local union held a rally in Eastlake, Ohio, and currently plans to continue the struggle. Hines said he hopes Trump will intervene to stop this decision. The White House has not responded to multiple requests for comment.

Conn Selmer's spokesperson did not comment on the union's criticism, but stated that the company confirmed that if the "provisional decision is finalized," part of the instrument production will be moved overseas. The spokesperson said that the factory closure "will enhance our competitiveness and better meet today's market demands. Our commitment to American manufacturing has remained unchanged for more than 150 years."

Public information shows that Paulson is now 71 years old and leads Paulson & Co., an investment management company, which is referred to as "one of the most famous figures in the financial world." Forbes estimates his net worth at $3.8 billion as of August 2025.

Paulson has long been in partnership with Trump. After Trump secured the Republican nomination in 2016, Paulson immediately offered support, becoming one of the top economic advisors to Trump's campaign, receiving media attention. During the 2020 presidential campaign, Paulson and his wife jointly donated $830,000 to Trump. In the 2024 election, Paulson remained an important fundraiser for Trump.

According to the U.S. media, The Wall Street Journal, Trump once considered appointing Paulson as the Secretary of the Treasury, but ultimately chose Bassett.

This article is exclusive to Observer Net. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

Original: toutiao.com/article/7607741526952788506/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author.