Trump Discusses Jimmy Lai’s Imprisonment with Xi Jinping

Former President Donald Trump shared details about his conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping regarding the imprisoned Hong Kong businessman Jimmy Lai, who has been a vocal critic of the Chinese government.

Lai, aged 78, is currently serving a 20-year sentence after being convicted of sedition and conspiracy, deemed as collusion with foreign forces by the Chinese authorities.

During an interview on “Special Report” that aired on Friday, Trump mentioned, “I brought up Jimmy Lai, and the reaction was, well, not positive. He described it as his worst nightmare.” Trump indicated he had a detailed conversation with Xi about Lai’s declining health, as he remains in a Hong Kong prison under difficult conditions.

Trump noted, “I mentioned that I’d appreciate it if they could consider releasing him, given his age and possibly poor health—though, I wasn’t exactly feeling optimistic about it.”

Jimmy Lai’s daughter, Claire Rye, expressed her hope for her father’s release in a recent appearance on “The Will Cain Show,” where she referred to Trump as a “liberator in chief.” She conveyed her gratitude, saying, “I’m feeling hopeful that he and this administration will work towards releasing my father.”

Lai has been imprisoned since 2020 after founding a pro-democracy newspaper that regularly confronted the Communist Party, actions that the Chinese government claims aimed to undermine its authority.

Despite not securing Lai’s release, Trump emphasized the numerous prisoners he has helped free, including Turkish-American pastor Andrew Brunson. He also criticized former President Joe Biden’s methods regarding prisoner releases, suggesting they involve excessive financial payouts.

On this issue, Trump commented, “I’ve managed to have hundreds released, and I don’t spend the kind of money that Biden does, giving away $6 billion to secure their release.”

However, the release of Lai isn’t the only point of contention between the U.S. and China. Taiwan is another significant issue, with Xi indicating that tensions over it could lead to potential conflicts.

On a more collaborative note, Xi offered assistance in negotiating a deal with Iran concerning the Strait of Hormuz. Trump hinted at an optimistic future for U.S.-China relations, praising Xi as a “great leader” during their meeting. He returned to Washington, D.C., on Friday.