Jimmy Lai's Release in Doubt: What Did Trump Say Before Meeting Xi Jinping?

The possibility of Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai being released from prison has become uncertain after US President Donald Trump made a fresh statement ahead of his upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Speaking in an interview with Salem News Channel on November 13, Trump said China was unlikely to release Lai because there was a "great level of hatred" towards him.

Trump also recalled an earlier conversation with Xi Jinping, in which the Chinese leader reportedly explained how Lai's role in Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement had caused serious distress to Beijing.

The comments have raised fresh questions about whether Trump can convince Xi to release the 78-year-old businessman during their upcoming meeting.

Trump and Xi are expected to meet at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, China, on November 18–19.

The Jimmy Lai case is expected to remain an important issue in discussions about human rights and relations between Washington and Beijing. However, Trump's latest comments suggest that he is not very optimistic about securing Lai's freedom.

What Did Donald Trump Say About Jimmy Lai's Release?

Donald Trump made the latest remarks while discussing the possibility of raising Jimmy Lai's case with Xi Jinping.

He said China had a strong negative feeling towards Lai because of his involvement in Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement.

Trump recalled that Xi had explained what happened in Hong Kong and described Lai as a leader whose actions had caused significant trouble for Beijing.

The US President also said that he had managed to secure the release of other detained individuals through discussions with foreign leaders.

However, he described Lai's case as different.

Trump said:

"I've gotten others out. Jimmy Lai's a little bit of a different story."

He also indicated that Xi had agreed to the release of other people but had not agreed to Lai's release.

These comments suggest that the issue could be difficult to resolve through diplomacy, even if Trump raises it again during the upcoming summit.

Why Is Jimmy Lai's Release in Doubt?

The main reason is the strong disagreement between the United States and China over Lai's role in Hong Kong.

Beijing considers Lai's activities a serious matter involving national security and the city's stability.

The Chinese government has maintained that Hong Kong's legal matters are internal issues and that its judicial institutions should operate according to the law.

The United States and several international rights groups, however, have raised concerns about Lai's imprisonment and its impact on press freedom.

This difference in positions has made the case a sensitive issue between the two countries.

Trump's latest remarks indicate that he understands the difficulty of securing Lai's release, particularly because Xi has not agreed to his request in earlier discussions.

Who Is Jimmy Lai and Why Is His Case Important?

Jimmy Lai is a Hong Kong media businessman and the founder of Apple Daily, a newspaper known for its criticism of the Chinese government.

He became one of the most prominent supporters of Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement.

Lai was arrested in August 2020 after authorities began taking action under Hong Kong's national security law.

His newspaper, Apple Daily, was later forced to close after authorities froze its assets and arrested senior figures connected with the publication.

His case attracted international attention because of concerns about press freedom, political opposition and the use of national security laws in Hong Kong.

For supporters of Lai, his imprisonment represents a major challenge to freedom of expression.

For Beijing, the case is connected to its position on national security and Hong Kong's stability.

Why Was Jimmy Lai Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison?

In February 2026, Jimmy Lai was sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted in a national security case.

The charges included conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and publishing seditious materials.

The case was connected to activities surrounding Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement and the national security law introduced by Beijing in 2020.

Lai has denied wrongdoing, while his supporters have criticised the legal proceedings and called for his release.

The 20-year sentence has made his case one of the most closely watched legal and political issues involving Hong Kong.

His age and reported health problems have also increased concerns among his family and international supporters.

What Is Trump's Plan Before Meeting Xi Jinping?

Trump is expected to meet Xi Jinping during the APEC summit in Shenzhen on November 18–19.

The meeting is important because the United States and China have several major issues to discuss, including trade, technology, security and diplomatic relations.

The Jimmy Lai case is another sensitive issue that Trump has indicated he wants to raise.

Trump had already discussed Lai's imprisonment with Xi during an earlier meeting in May 2026.

At that time, Trump said he wanted to see Lai released and indicated that he would bring up the matter again.

The latest statement, however, shows that he is less confident about achieving that result.

The upcoming meeting could provide another opportunity for Washington to raise concerns about Lai's imprisonment.

However, there is no confirmed agreement between the two governments on his release.

Why Is the Jimmy Lai Case Important for US-China Relations?

The Jimmy Lai case has become more than a legal matter involving one businessman.

It is also connected to the wider relationship between the United States and China.

Washington has repeatedly raised concerns about political prisoners and human rights issues in China and Hong Kong.

Beijing, meanwhile, has rejected foreign involvement in Hong Kong's internal affairs.

The disagreement creates another challenge for leaders who are trying to maintain diplomatic and economic relations.

Trump wants to maintain communication with Xi while also presenting himself as a leader who can negotiate the release of detained individuals.

For China, agreeing to release Lai could be viewed as a sensitive political decision because of the importance Beijing attaches to the national security case.

This is why the issue could become difficult during the upcoming summit.

Has Trump Successfully Secured the Release of Other Prisoners?

Trump has referred to other cases in which discussions with foreign leaders helped secure the release of detained individuals.

One example mentioned in his recent comments was Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri, who was released after Trump raised his case with Xi.

However, Trump has made it clear that he considers Jimmy Lai's situation different.

The difference appears to be connected to Beijing's strong objections to Lai's role in Hong Kong's political protests.

This suggests that the outcome of one prisoner-related negotiation does not guarantee a similar result in another case.

What Does Jimmy Lai's Family Want?

Jimmy Lai's family has repeatedly called for his release and raised concerns about his health.

His son, Sebastien Lai, has spoken publicly about his father's imprisonment and the difficulties faced by the family.

Reports have highlighted concerns about Lai's diabetes, heart-related health issues and long period in detention.

The family has urged international leaders, including Trump, to continue raising the case with Beijing.

For them, the upcoming Trump-Xi meeting is another opportunity to secure his freedom.

However, Trump's latest remarks have created uncertainty about whether diplomatic pressure will produce a positive result.

Will Xi Jinping Agree to Release Jimmy Lai?

At present, there is no confirmed indication that Xi Jinping will agree to release Jimmy Lai.

Trump's latest comments suggest that he expects strong resistance from Beijing.

China has maintained that Hong Kong's legal matters should be handled through its own judicial system.

The United States may continue to raise the case through diplomatic discussions, but a release agreement has not been announced.

The November 18–19 meeting could provide more clarity about the issue.

Until then, Lai's future remains uncertain.

Final Words

Donald Trump's latest remarks have raised doubts about Jimmy Lai's possible release from prison.

The US President said China has a strong negative view of the Hong Kong media tycoon and indicated that Xi Jinping has not agreed to his release, even though other detention cases have been discussed.

With Trump and Xi expected to meet at the APEC summit in Shenzhen on November 18–19, the issue could again become part of their diplomatic discussions.

However, no agreement has been announced, and Trump himself appears less optimistic about the outcome.

The meeting may reveal whether the United States can make further progress on Lai's case or whether the disagreement between Washington and Beijing will continue.