Johnson to Bring Jimmy Lai’s Daughter to State of the Union
State of the Union to Feature Daughter of Imprisoned Hong Kong Publisher
Washington – – Speaker Mike Johnson has announced that Claire Lai, daughter of imprisoned Hong Kong pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai, will be a guest at President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address tonight. The invitation is a direct response to Lai’s ongoing imprisonment in China and a signal of continued American commitment to his release.
Johnson will jointly host Lai with Representative Chris Smith. According to a press release from the Speaker’s office, Jimmy Lai “has devoted his career to championing democracy in Hong Kong, steadfastly fighting for the freedoms we too often take for granted in America.” The release further states that Lai is currently imprisoned “for simply defending free speech and speaking out against the totalitarian repression of the Chinese Communist Party.”
The decision to invite Claire Lai to the State of the Union underscores the growing international concern over Lai’s case. Johnson reportedly made a commitment to securing Lai’s release during an address to Parliament in the United Kingdom. He intends to reiterate that commitment on the national stage.
“As I made clear in my address to Parliament in the United Kingdom, America is determined to secure Jimmy’s release,” Johnson stated in the press release. He added that he will be “proud to co-host his daughter, Claire Lai, who has shown extraordinary courage in the face of her father’s unjust imprisonment, as my guest for President Trump’s State of the Union address.”
Representative Smith echoed Johnson’s sentiments, praising Claire Lai’s “courageous and tenacious campaign” to free her father. “My wife, Marie, gave Claire her ticket to the State of the Union, because we are so deeply inspired by her courageous and tenacious campaign to obtain the release of her father—the Hong Kong free speech and religious liberty hero—Jimmy Lai,” Smith said. He also highlighted the efforts of Claire’s brother, Sebastien, who testified at a 2023 congressional hearing chaired by Smith on the subject of Jimmy Lai’s imprisonment.
Smith noted that both Claire and Sebastien Lai have directly appealed to Chinese President Xi Jinping for their father’s release. He added that President Trump has “raised Jimmy Lai’s unjust incarceration numerous times,” indicating a consistent focus on the case within the administration.
Jimmy Lai, a prominent publisher and advocate for democracy in Hong Kong, was arrested in 2020 under the region’s national security law. He faces charges related to alleged collusion with foreign forces and sedition. His imprisonment has drawn widespread condemnation from international human rights organizations and governments, who view it as a suppression of free speech and democratic values.
The invitation to Claire Lai comes as tensions between the United States and China remain high on a number of fronts, including trade, technology, and human rights. The State of the Union address is expected to address these issues, and Lai’s presence is likely to serve as a pointed reminder of the human cost of political repression.
The New York Times reported on Johnson’s announcement , and the Taipei Times also covered the story, reporting the Speaker’s decision on .