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. 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.
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.
Lai out of prison during the presidential campaign in October 2024.
He even said it would be “easy.
Mr. Trump has promised he will ask for Mr. Lai’s freedom again. Mr. Lai has been convicted under Hong Kong law. But everyone knows this isn’t true. China imposed the national-security law on Hong Kong that was used to convict Mr. Lai for communicating in innocent fashion with foreigners. One of his offenses was writing an op-ed in these pages. A word from Mr. Xi, and Mr. Lai could be on a plane the next day.
Because mr, xi may reply that he can’t do anything about it.
