Trump: Will Do Everything Possible to Rescue Jimmy Lai

File photo: Jimmy Lai, founder of Apple Daily and one of Hong Kong’s leading pro-democracy activists. (Song Bilong / Dajiyuan)

[People News] U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday (August 14) that he would “do everything possible to rescue” imprisoned Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai, even though CCP leader Xi Jinping would not be “very excited” about releasing him.

According to Voice of America, Trump made the remarks during an interview on Fox News Radio’s Brian Kilmeade Show, when asked about Lai. Trump said, “I will do everything I can to save him. I will try my best. He is a very respectable man, a good man.”

He added that he had in fact raised with Beijing the possibility of Lai’s release: “His name has already entered the scope of issues we are discussing, and we’ll see what we can do.” Trump acknowledged that Xi would not be “excited” to free Lai.

Jimmy Lai, 77, is the founder of Next Digital (parent company of Apple Daily). He was arrested by Hong Kong national security police in August 2020 and indicted that December, becoming the first person charged under the CCP-imposed Hong Kong National Security Law with “collusion with foreign or external forces to endanger national security.” If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. His case has drawn concern from the U.S., U.K., Canada, the EU, and international human rights groups.

Lai’s trial, delayed twice, finally opened in December 2023 and has proceeded intermittently for nearly 11 months. He was cross-examined by both prosecution and defence lawyers as well as the judge until March 2025. Closing arguments were scheduled for Thursday morning but were postponed to Friday due to a severe rainstorm warning.

Back in May, just days before the first round of U.S.-China tariff negotiations in Geneva, Trump revealed in an interview on the Hugh Hewitt Show that he planned to bring up Lai’s case during trade talks.

At the time, Trump said, “I think putting Jimmy Lai’s issue into the (tariff) negotiations is a very good idea. We will make it part of the talks.”

Fox News Radio on Thursday also played remarks from Sebastien Lai, Jimmy Lai’s son, thanking President Trump: “We are very grateful that the President said he will 100% rescue my father. He mentioned this on Hugh Hewitt’s show. That gives our family great hope, because now it’s not only about rescuing him, it’s about saving his life. I don’t know how much longer he can survive.” △