Archive · 24 Sep 2026
Senator Budd urges Trump to raise rights with Xi
Senator Ted Budd wants President Donald Trump to discuss religious freedom with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
He also wants Trump to ask about Americans detained in China.
Budd named academics Dr Youlin Chen and Min Zin.
He said pastor Ezra Jin was released after Trump raised Jin’s case at a May summit.
Budd said the United States should keep helping people who may be wrongfully detained.
He also wants attention paid to religious groups in China.
Budd and Senator Ed Markey have worked together on the two academics’ cases.
The meeting is expected to cover other disagreements between the United States and China.
Other lawmakers have asked for discussions about artificial intelligence and farm purchases.
Republican Senator Ted Budd urged President Donald Trump to discuss religious freedom and detained Americans with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Budd named American academics Dr Youlin Chen and Min Zin as cases he wants Trump to raise.
He cited the release of Zion Church pastor Ezra Jin after Trump reportedly raised his case at a May summit.
Budd called for continued US attention to religious persecution and Americans or relatives of Americans he said were wrongfully detained.
Other congressional requests for the meeting include action on advanced AI chips, AI safety talks and Chinese purchases of US farm products.
- Who
- Senator Ted Budd urged President Donald Trump to raise the issues with Chinese President Xi Jinping; Budd also cited Dr Youlin Chen, Min Zin and pastor Ezra Jin.
- What
- Budd asked Trump to discuss religious freedom, detained Americans and broader human-rights concerns with Xi.
- When
- Ahead of a planned Trump-Xi meeting later this week; Budd said Jin’s case was raised at a May summit and Jin was released two months later.
- Where
- The planned meeting is at the White House; the detention cases concern China.
- Why
- Budd said protecting Americans abroad and addressing violations of religious freedom should be priorities in US-China talks.
- Senator making the appeal
- Ted Budd, a Republican senator
- Leaders involved
- President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping
- Americans named
- Dr Youlin Chen and Min Zin
- Religious-freedom case
- Zion Church pastor Ezra Jin
- Reported outcome for Jin
- Budd said Jin was released two months after Trump raised his case at a May US-China summit
- Additional congressional requests
- Talks on advanced AI chips, AI safety and more dependable Chinese purchases of American farm products