Over 100 U.S. lawmakers urge Trump to raise Jimmy Lai’s case with Xi Jinping, citing health concerns and press freedom violations.
Newsroom (11/05/2026 Gaudium Press ) More than 100 members of the United States Congress have called on President Donald Trump to press Chinese President Xi Jinping for the release of jailed media tycoon Jimmy Lai during an upcoming state visit to Beijing on May 14 and 15.
In a bipartisan letter sent to the White House on May 8 and signed by 105 lawmakers, legislators urged Trump to make Lai’s case a priority in his discussions with Xi, emphasizing the urgency of humanitarian intervention. Lai, founder of the now-defunct pro-democracy tabloid Apple Daily, was sentenced to 20 years in prison on February 9 following a conviction that supporters have described as politically motivated.
The letter was spearheaded by Representative Chris Smith, a Republican from New Jersey and co-chair of the Congressional Executive Committee on China, alongside Senator Rick Scott of Florida. Both lawmakers have long advocated for Lai’s release.
“We know the president wants to do this,” Smith said in a May 8 interview. “We want President Trump to know that we strongly support him in whatever he can accomplish.”
Lawmakers stressed that Trump’s direct engagement with Xi is “critical to ensuring Mr. Lai’s immediate release on humanitarian parole,” describing his freedom as “urgent and undeniable.” They noted that Lai, a devout Catholic and prominent businessman, has already spent five years in detention, much of it in solitary confinement.
Health Concerns Intensify Pressure
Central to the appeal is growing concern over Lai’s deteriorating health. According to the letter, prolonged isolation and inadequate prison conditions have worsened his condition, raising the risk of permanent damage.
Smith warned that Lai suffers from multiple serious illnesses, including type 2 diabetes, and requires immediate medical care. “Otherwise, it will be a stain on the Chinese Communist Party,” he said, adding that political prisoners are often neglected when they fall ill.
“He’s 78. It’s probably a life sentence, and he’s very ill,” Smith said. “We must break with this practice of letting people die in prison through negligence.”
The lawmakers also proposed a practical solution: if released, Lai would leave Hong Kong and withdraw from public life, allowing for family reunification while reducing political tensions.
Trump’s Role and Diplomatic Stakes
Trump is scheduled to visit China from May 13 to 15, marking the first visit by a sitting U.S. president in nearly a decade. He has previously stated he would do “everything I can to save” Lai and suggested the case could be raised alongside broader U.S.-China trade discussions.
Smith expressed confidence in Trump’s ability to influence Xi. “The president has a persuasive ability like no other president I’ve ever known,” he said. “And I hope he can convince Xi Jinping to let this great man go.”
Lai’s son, Sebastien Lai, has also publicly appealed to Trump, urging him to “bring him home.” Advocacy groups echoed the call, warning of the consequences of inaction.
Aleksandra Bielakowska of Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said, “The world already witnessed the tragic death of press freedom defender and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo in a Chinese prison amid insufficient international pressure. That failure must not be repeated.”
Press Freedom at Stake
Lai’s case has become emblematic of a broader crackdown on press freedom in Hong Kong. Since 2020, authorities have prosecuted at least 28 journalists, with eight currently detained. In February 2026, six additional Apple Daily staff members received prison sentences ranging from six to ten years.
Lai, an RSF Press Freedom Award laureate, has been held since December 2020 under harsh conditions, including solitary confinement, which has reportedly led to severe weight loss. In April 2026, Hong Kong authorities moved to confiscate assets linked to him, including approximately 127 million HKD.
Hong Kong now ranks 140th out of 180 territories in the 2026 RSF World Press Freedom Index, a sharp decline from 18th place two decades ago. Journalists in the region face increasing harassment, surveillance, and threats.
As Trump prepares to meet Xi, lawmakers and advocates alike are urging decisive action, framing Lai’s case as both a humanitarian imperative and a defining test of international commitment to press freedom.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from CNA and https://rsf.org/
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