Trump to raise detainees with Xi, but other rights issues may not come up

Chinese President Xi Jinping, China's first lady Peng Liyuan, U.S. President Donald Trump and U.S. first lady Melania Trump during an arrival ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on Wednesday | Bloomberg

Reuters

Sep 24, 2026

WASHINGTON – U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to press Chinese leader Xi Jinping to free two U.S. citizens held by China, but it is not clear whether other human-rights issues will get similar attention during this week’s summit.

In a preview of Xi’s visit last Friday, a U.S. official said Trump is likely to bring up cases of people wrongfully detained in China with Xi. However, the White House has not said whether Trump will directly raise broader rights issues related to Tibet, the Uyghur Muslim minority group and the country’s new “ethnic unity” law.

Trump has made winning freedom for Americans held overseas a priority, including in China, advocates say.

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