Three years ago, Trump sent Foxconn to Wisconsin. It was supposed to build a world-class manufacturing hub employing 13,000 people. It’s been a disaster. theverge.com/21507966/foxco…
Foxconn never had a concrete plan for what to do in the state and has spent the last several years careening from idea to idea (exporting dairy, farming fish, literally anything that would make money). One idea that stalled early was actually making LCDs. theverge.com/21507966/foxco…
Foxconn did maintain a consistent commitment to two things: getting ready for a White House visit, and hiring enough people to get subsidies from Wisconsin. It hired dozens of people just before the subsidy deadline, though many had nothing to do. Many have since been laid off.
To meet the subsidy quota, Foxconn recruited local college students, many of whom ended up just doing schoolwork. Another program targeted recent graduates, preferably foreign students on visas, because Foxconn management said they would work for cheaper. theverge.com/21507966/foxco…
Foxconn raced to hire enough people to get subsidies. 60% of its workforce in 2019 was hired in the last two months. But many were hired so late they didn't get paid until 2020, and Foxconn wasn't eligible anyway, because it's not making the LCD factory. theverge.com/21507966/foxco… 
Foxconn’s planned Trump visit fell apart too, partly because there wasn’t much to cut a ribbon for. The LCD factory is a shell. The glass sphere it rushed to build isn’t done and has no clear purpose. theverge.com/21507966/foxco…
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