US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he would consider what he could do to help “rescue” media tycoon Jimmy Lai, who is detained in Hong Kong, although Chinese President Xi Jinping would not be “pleased.” Trump said in an interview with Fox News, “I will do my best to save him. We’ll see what we can do… we’ll do everything we can.” Lai (77 years old) pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces under Hong Kong’s national security law, as well as a separate charge of conspiracy to publish seditious materials. He has been held in solitary confinement for more than 1500 days.

The spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, Liu Pingyu, said that Lai was “a mastermind and key participant in anti-China activities and destabilizing Hong Kong.” He added, “We strongly oppose any foreign forces exploiting cases under judicial review as an excuse to interfere in China’s internal affairs or to distort and undermine the rule of law in Hong Kong.” Trump said he would raise Lai’s case as part of trade and tariff negotiations with China. The US and China extended their tariff truce for another 90 days on Monday.