Trump Expresses Pessimism on Lai's Release
Donald Trump expressed pessimism about Jimmy Lai's release after discussing the case with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who called it a "tough one."
Lauren Collins ·
Trump Expresses Pessimism on Lai's Release
Former U.S. President Donald Trump indicated a lack of optimism regarding the potential release of Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai following discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping. This assessment emerged after Trump's two-day visit to China, where he reportedly raised Lai's case during summit talks. Lai, a 78-year-old British citizen and founder of Apple Daily, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in February under Beijing's national security law, after being found guilty in December on charges of foreign collusion and seditious publication.
During his return journey, Trump stated that Xi characterized Lai's situation as a "tough one." While Trump expressed some belief that Xi was considering the release of a detained church pastor, his outlook for Lai was less hopeful. Lai's family and supporters had anticipated that the U.S. president might facilitate his release, given his age and reported health issues, including diabetes and solitary confinement conditions.
Lai was arrested in 2020 amid a crackdown on Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement. His case has drawn international attention, particularly from the United Kingdom, where concerns have been raised about the implications for democratic principles in Hong Kong. Trump had previously mentioned discussing Lai's release with Xi, citing Lai's age and health, but without specifying the date of those earlier conversations.