Donald Trump’s Praise of Jimmy Lai as a ‘Brave Man’ Becomes Evidence of Lai’s Offense

Jimmy Lai (C), founder of Next Media Group, was charged by the Hong Kong police with crimes such as "conspiracy to collude with foreign forces” and "conspiracy to publish seditious materials" under the Hong Kong National Security Law, on Aug. 12, 2020. He was released on bail after about 40 hours of detention and received an astounding ovation from the crowd on his way out of the police station. A week later, then-U.S. President Donald Trump praised him as a "brave man" in his answer to reporters. Sung Pi-lung/The Epoch Times

The trial of Hong Kong Tycoon and Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai reached day 32 on, Feb. 26. The prosecutor presented to the court one item published in August 2020 by the now-defunct Apple Daily, which mentions that former U.S. President Donald Trump praised Jimmy Lai as a “Brave Man,” as evidence for Lai’s prosecution.

The case of Mr. Lai and Apple Daily, charged with “conspiracy to collude with foreign forces” and “conspiracy to publish seditious materials” under the Hong Kong National Security Law (NSL), was held at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts on Feb. 26.