Donald Trump says Chinese President Xi Jinping is considering the case of a pastor detained in China, but he adds that freeing media tycoon Jimmy Lai is “tough.” Reporting across outlets says Trump frames the situation as part of broader negotiations or willingness to release certain detainees, particularly when high-profile religious cases are involved. At the same time, multiple reports note that activists and rights groups argue Beijing has become less willing to release prisoners who have directly challenged the Chinese government or its record on human rights during Xi’s rule. The Independent and Winnipeg Free Press both describe Trump’s comments contrasting optimism for the pastor’s situation with reduced hope for Lai’s. Stuff.co.nz similarly emphasizes that activists view releases as increasingly difficult, suggesting political and rights-related factors influence any decisions by Chinese authorities. Taken together, the coverage presents Trump as communicating varying expectations about different detainees, while external observers underscore a broader trend of tightening release policies for people who have confronted the government.