President Donald Trump announced he intends to bring up the imprisonment of Jimmy Lai, a well-known Hong Kong Catholic and media figure, during his forthcoming visit to China. Lai, a vocal pro-democracy campaigner, has been sentenced to prison under Hong Kong’s national security law, a measure widely criticized for suppressing dissent.
Despite expressing support for Lai’s release, Trump also described the activist as having “caused a lot of bedlam,” suggesting Lai’s actions troubled the Chinese authorities. Trump compared Lai’s situation to hypothetical legal cases in the United States, implying complexities around whether prisoners like Lai should be freed, but ultimately affirmed his intention to advocate on Lai’s behalf.
Lai, the founder of the now-shuttered Apple Daily newspaper, was arrested under the national security law enacted after mass pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. This law has been condemned internationally for targeting critics of the Chinese Communist Party. Since his arrest in 2020, Lai has faced multiple charges and was sentenced to a lengthy prison term earlier this year.
Trump also said he would raise concerns about the detention of Ezra Jin Mingri, the founder and pastor of Zion Church, whose case highlights religious freedom issues in China. U.S. officials have portrayed both Lai and Jin as political prisoners, calling for their release.
The president characterized these detained individuals as “really innocent people” unjustly held, emphasizing his intention to discuss their cases directly with Chinese leadership. While acknowledging the challenges involved, Trump reiterated his commitment to bringing these human rights concerns to the forefront during diplomatic talks.