But one man he hasn’t been able to liberate after six years in a Hong Kong prison is 78-year-old newspaper publisher Jimmy Lai. President Trump understandably takes great pride in the number of unjustly imprisoned people he has helped to free from foreign dungeons. It is one of his best legacies.
Lai out of prison during the presidential campaign in October 2024. Mr. Trump first promised he’d get Mr. He’s kept at it since, meeting quietly with Mr. Lai’s son, Sebastien, and Mr. Lai’s lawyer at the White House. Mr. Trump also raised Mr. Lai’s case with Chinese President Xi Jinping on his May visit to Beijing. To no avail so far. Mr. Trump will have another chance to argue for Mr. Lai’s release when Mr. Xi comes to Washington this week for a summit. Mr. Xi, at the airport. It would cost Mr. Xi nothing to free Mr. Lai, and it would prevent the international ignominy that is sure to follow if Mr. Lai dies in prison. Mr. Trump puts a premium on his personal diplomacy with foreign leaders. We’ll soon learn if Mr. Xi returns the favor to Mr. Trump for all of the Washington pomp and presidential praise.
He even said it would be “easy. He’s even breaking his usual pattern and is planning to meet the man he calls his “friend,” Mr. Trump is rolling out the gold carpet, with a gala state dinner on Thursday.
