Trump urges Xi Jinping to free HK pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai

US president says he feels so badly' about Lai's conviction and has spoken to the Chinese leader about it

Donald Trump has said he wants Chinese leader Xi Jinping to release Jimmy Lai as he voiced sadness over the Hong Kong media mogul's conviction on national security charges.

I feel so badly. I spoke to President Xi about it, and I asked to consider his release," Trump told reporters on Monday, without specifying when he asked Xi.