President Donald Trump said on Friday that Chinese President Xi Jinping appears to be seriously weighing the possibility of freeing a pastor detained in China, but he characterized the case of media mogul Jimmy Lai as likely more difficult to resolve.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One while returning to the United States from China, the president said, "I think he’s giving very serious consideration to the pastor," when describing his discussion with Xi. He added that Xi had indicated Lai’s situation would be handled differently, quoting the Chinese leader as saying, "He told me that would be a tough one."
In a separate interview with Fox News Channel’s 'Special Report,' Mr. Trump said he raised Lai’s case directly but received what he described as an unfavorable reaction. "I would say the response to that was not positive," he said.
The president recounted pressing Xi on Lai’s circumstances personally. "He went through a whole thing and I said, ‘Well, we’d appreciate if you would release him. He’s gotten old, and he’s probably not feeling too well. It would be nice.’ And I did not feel optimistic. I have to be honest with you about that one," Trump said.
Jimmy Lai was sentenced in February to 20 years in prison after convictions on two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of publishing seditious materials. Lai’s prosecution and lengthy sentence have drawn international concern and criticism for what observers describe as a national security-led clampdown in Hong Kong. Lai is known as the founder of the now-shuttered Apple Daily newspaper; his case has prompted censure from some foreign governments and international rights groups over the effect of the security law on press freedom and political dissent in the territory.
Separately, the president referenced a detained pastor whose potential release Xi is reportedly considering. The pastor identified in reporting as Pastor Jin Mingri, founder of Zion Church, was arrested in November along with nearly 30 other pastors and staff associated with the church. That raid has been described as the most significant crackdown on Chinese Christians since 2018.
Those detentions followed new directives from China’s leading religion regulator that prohibit unauthorized online preaching or religious training by clergy and restrict what the regulator terms "foreign collusion." The measures and the subsequent arrests have raised questions about the enforcement scope of the updated religious rules.
Contextual note: The president’s comments reflect direct bilateral discussions he said he held with President Xi about individual detainees, while emphasizing differing responses from Chinese leadership across separate cases.