Trump’s Promise to Secure Jimmy Lai’s Release Faces Crucial Turning Point in Hong Kong

Published Time: 08-14-2025, 15:45

Jimmy Lai, a 77-year-old Hong Kong media mogul and outspoken advocate for democracy, is approaching a critical moment in a landmark trial that could determine whether he spends the rest of his life behind bars. Former U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly vowed to seek Lai’s release if he returns to the White House, but the outcome may depend on complex diplomatic dynamics between Washington and Beijing.

The case has become a focal point in global debates on press freedom, the reach of Hong Kong’s National Security Law, and the influence of foreign governments on the city’s legal process. As closing arguments proceed, the verdict is expected to carry both legal and geopolitical weight.

Years in Detention Under National Security Charges

Jimmy Lai has been imprisoned for more than 1,600 days, much of that time in solitary confinement, inside a Hong Kong maximum-security facility. He founded Apple Daily, a now-closed pro-democracy tabloid that frequently criticized Beijing’s policies.

Lai faces two counts of “collusion with foreign forces” under the National Security Law enacted in 2020, as well as a sedition charge. Each collusion count carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. He has pleaded not guilty.

The legislation, introduced after the 2019 pro-democracy protests, has drawn international criticism for curbing freedoms previously protected under Hong Kong’s “one country, two systems” arrangement.

Trump’s Commitment and Diplomatic Strategy

In October 2024, shortly before winning a second presidential term, Trump told radio host Hugh Hewitt he would “100%” work to free Lai, even suggesting that the case could be raised during trade talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

“I think talking about Jimmy Lai is a very good idea,” Trump said in a follow-up interview, noting that his administration would include the matter in diplomatic discussions.

According to Mark Simon, Lai’s senior aide, and Mark Clifford, president of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation, U.S. officials informally raised Lai’s detention during trade negotiations. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was reportedly directed by Trump to ensure Lai’s case was addressed in discussions with Beijing.

White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly told CNN, “As President Trump said, Jimmy Lai should be released, and he wants to see that happen.”

Firm Opposition from Beijing and Hong Kong Authorities

Chinese Embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu rejected foreign involvement, stating: “We strongly oppose external forces using judicial cases as a pretext to interfere in China’s internal affairs or undermine Hong Kong’s rule of law.”

The Hong Kong Security Bureau issued a similar statement, warning against political pressure on the city’s judicial process and calling such interference “a reprehensible act undermining the rule of law.”

Trade Negotiations Overlap with Legal Proceedings

The trial is unfolding during a delicate period in U.S.–China relations. Trump has recently extended a 90-day trade truce and indicated he may visit China if significant progress is made in resolving trade and technology disputes. He has also rolled back certain export restrictions, including lifting a ban on Nvidia’s H20 chip sales to Chinese companies.

Yun Sun, director of the China program at the Stimson Center, told CNN that while Beijing might consider negotiations, “Jimmy Lai is British, not American. I doubt China will make a deal easily. But if trade talks are a priority for Beijing, negotiations could happen — depending on the terms.”

Broad Political Support for Lai

Lai’s detention has drawn bipartisan backing in Washington and support from the global Catholic community. In March, U.S. lawmakers introduced a proposal to rename the street outside the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Washington as “1 Jimmy Lai Way.”

In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Keir Starmer raised the issue with Xi Jinping during the 2024 G20 summit in Brazil. Foreign Secretary David Lammy has called Lai’s imprisonment “cruel and unusual punishment,” prompting criticism from Beijing.

From Refugee to Influential Media Figure

Born in mainland China, Lai fled to Hong Kong at age 12, arriving in the city by fishing boat with no money. He began as a factory worker and rose to wealth in the clothing industry. The 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown inspired him to shift focus toward media and politics.

In 1995, he launched Apple Daily, which became a strong voice in Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement. During the 2019 protests, he traveled to Washington to meet with then–Vice President Mike Pence and other U.S. leaders, advocating for stronger international support for the city’s freedoms.

A Landmark Trial Without a Jury

Under the National Security Law, Lai’s trial is being heard by a panel of judges appointed for such cases, not by a jury — a break from Hong Kong’s common law tradition. Closing arguments are expected to take several days, with the verdict potentially weeks or months away.

Paul Harris, former chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association, has noted that under Hong Kong’s Basic Law, the city’s chief executive has the authority to pardon or commute sentences with Beijing’s approval.

Concerns Over Health and Humanitarian Grounds

Lai’s family and supporters say his health is deteriorating. His son, Sebastien Lai, has described solitary confinement as “a form of torture,” noting the risks posed by extreme summer heat in his concrete cell and his father’s diabetes.

The Hong Kong Correctional Services Department denies allegations of mistreatment, saying Lai requested to be removed from the general prison population.

Advocates, including Clifford — author of The Troublemaker, a biography of Lai — warn that his continued detention could turn him into a lasting symbol of resistance against Beijing. “If he dies in prison, he’ll be a martyr,” Clifford said.

An Urgent Countdown for Supporters

With Lai approaching his 78th birthday, international backers stress that time is running out. While Trump has promised to act, the decision ultimately rests with Hong Kong’s judiciary and, indirectly, with Beijing’s political leadership.

Sebastien Lai remains both concerned and proud: “On a personal level, it’s devastating. But on a grander, historical level, it’s important to keep watch.”