Trump says Xi is considering a detained pastor's case, but freeing activist Jimmy Lai is 'tough'

Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri speaks during an interview at the Zion Church in Beijing, China, Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2018. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, file)

Democracy advocate Jimmy Lai leaves Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal where the government is arguing against allowing him bail in Hong Kong, Feb. 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu, File)

HONG KONG (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday he raised the issue with Chinese President Xi Jinping of releasing a prominent detained pastor and imprisoned Hong Kong activist Jimmy Lai, and quoted Xi as saying he’d consider the pastor but that Lai’s case is a “tough one.”

Speaking to reporters as he flew back from a trip to China, Trump said Xi told him he would give serious consideration to the case of Ezra Jin Mingri, pastor of an underground church detained in China in October in what observers have called an escalating crackdown on religious freedom.

“He said he’s gonna strongly consider the pastor,” Trump said.