Claire Lai, daughter of imprisoned Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai, has expressed gratitude toward President Donald Trump after he raised her father's case during his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week.
Speaking to NewsNation's Elizabeth Vargas on Friday, the younger Lai said her family does not know the specific details of the conversation between Trump and Xi, according to a report by The Hill. Despite that uncertainty, she welcomed the fact that her father's name was reportedly mentioned at all during the high-level talks.
Who is Jimmy Lai?
Jimmy Lai is the founder of the now-shuttered pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily in Hong Kong. He has been held in custody since 2020 and faces charges under Hong Kong's national security law, which was imposed by Beijing in the wake of the city's 2019 pro-democracy protests. His trial has drawn significant international attention, with press freedom advocates and Western governments condemning the proceedings as politically motivated. Beijing and Hong Kong authorities maintain that the prosecution is a legitimate legal matter.
Lai, a British citizen, has become one of the most prominent symbols of the crackdown on civil liberties in Hong Kong following the implementation of the national security legislation.
Trump-Xi summit backdrop
The summit between Trump and Xi took place this week amid broader discussions on trade, tariffs, and geopolitical tensions between the United States and China. The reported mention of Jimmy Lai adds a human rights dimension to talks that have largely centered on economic and strategic issues.
The British government has also repeatedly called for Lai's release, and his case has been cited by international press freedom organizations as a marker of the deteriorating media environment in Hong Kong.
Family's response
Claire Lai's comments reflect the family's ongoing efforts to keep international attention focused on her father's imprisonment. While she acknowledged the lack of information about what precisely was said between the two leaders, her public praise of Trump signals appreciation that the case was not set aside in favor of purely economic discussions.
The outcome of any such exchange between Trump and Xi has not been publicly confirmed by either the White House or Chinese officials. It remains unclear whether Jimmy Lai's situation was raised as a formal diplomatic matter or as part of a broader conversation.
Lai's trial in Hong Kong is ongoing, and no verdict has been reached.
