Thursday, 06 November 2025 06:47 AM EST
President Donald Trump directly urged China’s Xi Jinping to release jailed Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai during their meeting in South Korea last week, according to multiple sources familiar with the discussions.
Trump did not propose a specific agreement for Lai’s release but highlighted concerns about the 77-year-old publishing mogul’s health and well-being following his prolonged trial on national security charges, one source said. The conversation lasted less than five minutes, another source added.
“President Trump raised Jimmy Lai’s case as promised,” a U.S. administration official stated. “Both President Trump and President Xi engaged in the discussion that followed.” A third individual, speaking anonymously due to the meeting’s sensitivity, confirmed Trump suggested Lai’s release could improve U.S.-China relations and enhance China’s global reputation.
The intervention occurs as Lai awaits a verdict after a trial viewed as emblematic of China’s crackdown on freedoms in Hong Kong under its national security law, enacted following 2019 pro-democracy protests. Lai, founder of the shuttered pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper, has pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiring to collude with foreign forces and publishing seditious material.
Trump had previously indicated he would raise Lai’s case before the talks, though neither side’s official summaries mentioned it afterward. The White House did not confirm whether Trump discussed the issue. China’s embassy in Washington denied awareness of specific details about Lai from the meeting, asserting his “crimes have gravely undermined Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability.”
Lai’s son, Sebastien Lai, expressed gratitude for Trump’s efforts, citing his father’s prolonged detention and appeals for intervention. Lai has been held in solitary confinement for over 1,700 days, according to his family and rights groups. Chinese officials have emphasized the importance of Hong Kong’s legal process, stating Lai has received a fair trial.
Lai remains incarcerated at Lai Chi Kok prison as he awaits a verdict after his trial concluded in late August. If convicted, he could face life imprisonment. His lawyers reported he suffers from heart palpitations and has been provided with medical care.
