Archive · 16 Dec 2025
Trump Urges Xi to Release Ailing Jimmy Lai
Jimmy Lai is a 78-year-old man who started a newspaper in Hong Kong that supports democracy.
He was put in prison a long time ago for doing things the Chinese government didn't like.
The American president, Donald Trump, talked to the Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, and asked him to let Jimmy Lai go because he's old and not feeling well.
Some people in the US, like a man named Marco Rubio, also said it's not fair that Jimmy Lai is in prison and that he should be let out.
The Chinese government has been putting a lot of rules on Hong Kong, especially after there were big protests there a few years ago.
Jimmy Lai was found guilty of working with foreign countries against China and publishing things that the government didn't like.
He could be in prison for a very long time.
US President Donald Trump asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to consider releasing Jimmy Lai, a 78-year-old Hong Kong media mogul and pro-democracy activist.
Lai was convicted on national security charges and has been imprisoned since 2020, with his health reportedly deteriorating.
Trump made the request during a meeting with Xi in South Korea in October, citing Lai's age and poor health.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized the conviction, stating it shows China's intent to silence dissent.
Lai's case has been raised by a coalition of democracy, press freedom advocates, and Christian activists in the US.
- Who
- Jimmy Lai, a 78-year-old Hong Kong media mogul and pro-democracy activist
- What
- Conviction on national security charges and a request by US President Donald Trump for his release
- When
- Conviction on Monday (unspecified date); Trump's request made during a meeting with Xi Jinping in South Korea in October
- Where
- Hong Kong; Trump's request made during a meeting with Xi Jinping in South Korea
- Why
- Lai's conviction is part of China's clampdown on Hong Kong following 2019 mass protests; Trump cited Lai's age and poor health
- Jimmy Lai
- 78-year-old Hong Kong media mogul and pro-democracy activist
- Charges
- Conspiring to collude with foreign forces and publishing seditious material
- Trump's Request
- Asked Xi Jinping to consider Lai's release due to age and health
- Lai's Health
- Severely deteriorated during imprisonment
- Imprisonment Duration
- Since 2020
- Conviction Date
- Monday (unspecified date)
- Trump-Xi Meeting
- October in South Korea
- Potential Sentence
- Up to life imprisonment under Hong Kong’s national security law
Sources
Trump Says Has Asked Xi Jinping To Consider Release Of Jimmy Lai
Jimmy Lai remains beacon of Hong Kong press freedom, say ex-colleagues awaiting his sentencing
'He's old and not well': Trump says he asked Xi to 'consider' Jimmy Lai's release
In Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai’s conviction, role of China’s National Security Law
Hong Kong leader raised Jimmy Lai conviction in meeting with China leader