Donald Trump has said he wants Chinese leader Xi Jinping to release Jimmy Lai, the Hong Kong media mogul convicted on national security charges. Speaking to reporters on Monday, the US president expressed sadness over Lai's situation, stating he had raised the issue with Xi. 'I feel so badly. I spoke to President Xi about it, and I asked to consider his release,' Trump said, without specifying when the conversation took place.
Lai, the 78-year-old founder of the pro-democracy tabloid Apple Daily, was found guilty on Monday of three charges under Hong Kong's national security law and could face life imprisonment. He has been in custody since his arrest in late 2020 and is diabetic. Trump noted Lai's age and poor health, saying, 'He's an older man, and he's not well. So I did put that request out. We'll see what happens.'
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the verdict on X, saying it demonstrated China's determination to 'silence those who seek to protect freedom of speech and other fundamental rights.' Rubio also highlighted Lai's deteriorating health after more than 1,800 days in prison and urged his release on humanitarian grounds. The case has drawn widespread condemnation from governments, institutions, and rights groups globally.
Lai's daughter Claire Lai appealed for his freedom, telling the Associated Press that her father would devote himself to God and family rather than political activism if released. 'He just wants to reunite with his family. He wants to dedicate his life to serving our Lord,' she said. Trump, who previously indicated he wanted to free Lai before returning to the White House, is believed to have raised the case during a meeting with Xi in October in South Korea.
Lai, a British citizen and devout Catholic, has been supported by an ad hoc coalition of democracy and press freedom advocates, as well as Christian activists in the US, who form a key base for Trump. His conviction is part of a broader crackdown by China on Hong Kong following mass protests in 2019.
