politics
U.S. pastor released from Chinese prison after Trump raised case with Xi
A U.S. pastor jailed since October 2025 arrived back in the United States on Friday after President Trump discussed the case during a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Congressional Republicans credited the release to the president’s intervention, while some Democrats also welcomed the outcome.
Jul 7, 5:12 PM·1m read1 source
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A U.S. pastor who founded an underground church in Beijing was released from a Chinese prison and returned to the United States on Friday. The pastor had been held since October 2025 along with 17 other church leaders. President Trump raised the pastor’s case during a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing. The pastor arrived back in the U.S. just weeks after that discussion.
Congressional reaction Republican lawmakers credited the release to the president’s intervention. The chair of the House Select Committee on China said the outcome reflected both divine intervention and the president’s direct request to Xi Jinping. A Florida senator thanked President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, stating that efforts to hold China accountable must continue.
A Virginia senator described the release as positive news and noted prior bipartisan advocacy for the pastor’s freedom. The Jin family issued a statement expressing hope that the development signals improved conditions for people of faith in China and better relations between the two countries.
Democratic members of Congress who had previously called for the pastor’s release largely did not comment. One Democratic co-chair of the China committee did not respond to requests for comment.
