Days before winning second presidential elections, Donald Trump vowed to secure the release of 77-year-old jailed Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai. Lai is the outspoken founder of the now-closed Apple Daily which is a strong pro-democratic newspaper known for its sharp criticism of China’s Communist Party which was later forced to shut down, as reported by CNN. He had spent more than 1600 days in a maximum-security prison, much of it in solitary confinement. Lai is accused of working with foreign forces, a crime under Beijing’s 2020 national security law that can lead to life in prison and a separate sedition charge. He has not pleaded guilty to all charges.On Thursday, a Hong Kong court was set to begin closing arguments, but proceedings were delayed due to severe weather. The hearings, expected to span several days, will pave the way for a verdict that could test Trump’s ability and willingness to deliver on his October 2024 campaign promise to “100%” secure Lai’s release.Trump has indicated he would raise Lai’s case directly with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, potentially linking it to ongoing US–China trade negotiations. Lai’s aides and supporters say the case has been mentioned informally during recent trade talks. White House officials under Trump have reiterated that securing Lai’s release remains a goal.In an October interview, Trump told podcast host Hugh Hewitt that he would “100%” speak to Xi Jinping to secure Lai’s release if he won the election.Later, as president, Trump vowed to bring up Lai’s case during US trade negotiations with China. “100% I’ll get him out. He’ll be easy to get out,” he said“I think talking about Jimmy Lai is a very good idea,” he told Hewitt in a subsequent radio interview in May, just days before officials met in Geneva for the first round of talks. “We’ll put it down, and we’ll put it down as part of the negotiation.”Beijing and Hong Kong authorities have condemned foreign involvement in the case, calling it interference in China’s internal affairs. Chinese officials have rejected suggestions that the legal proceedings are politically motivated.“Any attempt by any country, organization, or individual to interfere with the judicial proceedings in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region by means of political power, thereby resulting in a defendant not being able to have a fair trial that one should receive, is a reprehensible act undermining the rule of law of Hong Kong and should be condemned,” the city’s Security Bureau said in a statement.Lai, a British national and devout Catholic, is a longtime critic of the Chinese Communist Party and a prominent supporter of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement. His imprisonment has drawn bipartisan support for his release in Washington and public backing from the UK government.“Jimmy Lai is British, not American. Given the high profile of his case, I doubt that China will be willing to make a deal,” said Yun Sun, director of the China program at the Stimson Center think tank in Washington.Supporters warn his advanced age, diabetes and prolonged solitary confinement threaten his health. Sebastien Lai, son of Jimmy Lai has said that he is hopeful that President Trump will be able to free him. “We’re incredibly grateful that the president knows about my father’s case and has said that he will free him,” Sebastien said. “The president has a tremendous track record in freeing prisoners around the world. So hearing this gives our family a lot of hope.”Paul Harris, former chairman of Hong Kong’s Bar Association, said that Lai’s presence in Hong Kong does not prevent his release. He explained that under Hong Kong’s mini-constitution, known as the Basic Law, the chief executive has both the authority and the responsibility, in certain cases, to pardon convicted prisoners or reduce their sentences.“So that power is there, and it’s a matter for the Chief Executive’s decision whether he wants to use it, and one can safely assume that if the President of China wants him to use it, he will use it,” Harris said, referencing Xi.
