Jimmy Lai's Freedom Hinges on Donald Trump's Dealmaking

US President Donald Trump says he will raise the case of imprisoned Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai when he meets President Xi Jinping in China next week. It might seem implausible that Beijing would consider releasing the pro-democracy businessman, an arch foe who feuded with the ruling Communist Party for decades, only three months after he was given a 20-year sentence on national security charges. The obstacles are formidable and shouldn’t be underestimated. But there are enough reasons to think that a deal isn’t out of the question.

Much may depend on how much political capital Trump is prepared to spend on advancing the cause of a non-American citizen. The president has tempered expectations of success. In October 2024, when Lai’s trial was ongoing, he said “100%, I’ll get him out. He’ll be easy to get out.” Speaking again to conservative radio commentator Hugh Hewitt on Monday, Trump said he would bring up the matter with Xi during his May 14-15 summit but added that “there’s a little bitterness, I would say, with him and Jimmy Lai.”