Sebastien Lai thanks Trump for raising his father’s case with Xi this week

As confirmed by a White House official late on Thursday evening, President Trump used his bilateral meeting with President Xi of China to press for Jimmy Lai’s release. President Trump has consistently expressed his support for Lai in recent years, both whilst campaigning and whilst in office.

Responding to the news that Trump has now raised his father’s case directly with his Chinese counterpart, Sebastien Lai said, 

“I am so incredibly grateful that the President discussed my father’s case in his meeting with President Xi. Knowing President Trump’s reputation as the Liberator in Chief, I pray that his continued support and commitment will convince President Xi to free my father before it is too late.”

Jimmy Lai

Mr Lai is a 77-year-old British citizen and renowned pro-democracy campaigner, media entrepreneur, and writer. He is currently imprisoned in Hong Kong, and has been detained continuously since December 2020. He has faced multiple prosecutions, including for alleged sedition and alleged conspiracy to collude with foreign forces under the controversial Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong and Special Administrative Region (“NSL”). The closing submissions in the NSL trial concluded on August 28 2025 and a verdict is awaited. If convicted, Mr Lai could be sentenced to life imprisonment. Given his age and state of health, it is feared that this would mean Mr Lai dying in prison.

Last year, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention ruled that Mr Lai is unlawfully and arbitrarily detained, calling for his immediate release. Five UN Special Rapporteurs have also joined a statement calling for Mr Lai’s immediate and unconditional release. The UK, US, Australian, Canadian and Italian governments have also called for his release, as has the European Union and Roman Catholic leaders; and resolutions calling for his release have been passed in the European and Canadian Parliaments. 

The international legal team for Jimmy Lai and Sebastien Lai is led by Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC (Associate Tenant) and includes Jonathan Price KC, Tatyana Eatwell, Jennifer Robinson and Martha Spurrier (Associate Tenant).

A press release from the Free Jimmy Lai campaign is available here.