Trump says he will ‘100%’ get jailed Hong Kong ex-tycoon Jimmy Lai out of country
US presidential candidate tells podcast host he will speak to President Xi Jinping to secure Lai’s release if he wins November 5 election
Lai, founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily tabloid newspaper, is behind bars in the maximum-security Stanley Prison awaiting the resumption of his high-profile national security trial. He is expected to take the witness box next month to defend himself against foreign collusion and sedition charges.
In an interview with conservative podcast host Hugh Hewitt last Thursday, Trump was asked whether he would speak to Chinese President Xi Jinping to get Lai out of the country if he won the November 5 presidential election.
“One hundred per cent, yes,” Trump said. “I’ll get him out. He’ll be easy to get out. But we don’t have people that even talk about it.”
