Trump Urges Xi Jinping to Release Ailing Hong Kong Media Mogul Jimmy Lai

During a meeting with Xi Jinping in South Korea last October, U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly addressed the case of Jimmy Lai, the prominent Hong Kong media tycoon.

On Monday, Trump expressed his deep concern over Jimmy Lai's conviction, revealing to reporters that he had personally requested Xi Jinping consider Lai's release. "I feel so badly. I spoke to President Xi about it, and I asked to consider his release," Trump stated, emphasizing Lai's deteriorating health condition. "He's an older man, and he's not well. So I did put that request out. We'll see what happens."

Trump had previously indicated his desire to secure freedom for Lai, who is widely known for establishing Apple Daily, a pro-democracy tabloid that gained significant influence in Hong Kong's media landscape.

Following Trump's remarks, Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted on X that the verdict demonstrated China's resolve to "silence those who seek to protect freedom of speech and other fundamental rights." Rubio also highlighted China's unfulfilled promise to maintain Hong Kong's separate system after Britain's handover of the territory in 1997.

In his official statement, Rubio noted, "Reports indicate that Mr. Lai's health has severely deteriorated during more than 1,800 days in prison," and urged authorities to "bring this ordeal to an end as soon as possible and to release Mr. Lai on humanitarian grounds."

Lai, a devout Catholic, has garnered support in the United States from a diverse coalition comprising democracy advocates, press freedom supporters, and Christian activists—a key constituency for Trump.

At 78 years old and suffering from diabetes, Lai was found guilty on all three charges in his national security trial. He potentially faces spending his remaining years in prison, having already been incarcerated since late 2020.

His conviction represents a significant element of China's broader crackdown on Hong Kong following the massive protests that swept the city in 2019.