President Donald Trump shared insights into his conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping regarding the detention of Jimmy Lai, a Hong Kong entrepreneur known for his vocal criticism of the Chinese government.
Lai, aged 78, is currently serving a 20-year prison term after being convicted of sedition and conspiracy to collude with foreign entities by the Chinese regime.
In an interview on “Special Report,” Trump recounted, “I raised the issue of Jimmy Lai. The response was less than encouraging, as he described it as one of his biggest challenges,” Trump revealed during the program that aired on Friday.
Trump mentioned that he discussed Lai’s deteriorating health extensively with Xi, noting the tough conditions the media tycoon endures in a Hong Kong jail.
“I requested his release, considering his age and health condition. It would be a kind gesture,” Trump conveyed to Fox News’ chief political anchor, Bret Baier.
“My hopes were not high. I must be frank about that,” he admitted.
Jimmy’s daughter Claire Lai expressed high hopes of her father’s release on “The Will Cain Show” Thursday, praising Trump as the “liberator-in-chief.”
“I’m more hopeful than I’ve ever been that he is the president and this is the administration that will free my father, and we are just so extremely grateful,” she said before Trump spoke with Xi about Lai’s release.
Lai, who was imprisoned in 2020, founded a pro-democracy newspaper that regularly criticized the Communist Party, which Chinese authorities say was an effort to undermine the government.
Despite being unable to secure Lai’s release from Hong Kong, Trump touted the “hundreds” of prisoners he has helped release, including American Pastor Andrew Brunson from Turkey.
The president also criticized former President Joe Biden’s prisoner release strategy, which he suggested was a waste of American money.
“I’ve gotten hundreds of people out, and, by the way, I don’t pay a lot of money. I don’t pay any money, like Biden, where they give $6 billion all the time to get people out,” he said.
Lai’s release is not the only topic the two world superpowers cannot agree on.
Another central fault line is Taiwan, which Xi warned could cause “clashes and even conflicts” between the United States and China.
Though, Xi did offer to help the United States broker a deal with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, striking a more collaborative tone.
Trump indicated a “fantastic future” of US-China relations and praised Xi as a “great leader” during the talks.
He departed back to Washington, DC, on Friday.
