The High Court of the HKSAR on Monday morning (Feb. 9) sentenced Jimmy Lai, an instigator of anti-China riots in Hong Kong, to 20 years in prison.
The case has drawn international attention, particularly in the US, where US President Donald Trump previously commented on Lai's imprisonment. During an October 2024 interview on the Hugh Hewitt Show, Trump—then campaigning for a return to the presidency—was asked whether he would negotiate with Chinese President Xi Jinping to secure Lai's release and arrange for him to leave China. Trump confidently responded, "100% I'll get him out," adding that it would be "very easy" to accomplish.
However, in an August 2025 interview with Fox News, Trump appeared to walk back his earlier statement. He clarified that he never explicitly promised to secure Lai's release but rather pledged to "100% bring up the issue" with Xi.
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