President Donald Trump will personally request the release of at least three Americans detained in China during his summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping this week, White House officials confirmed Tuesday. The move follows bipartisan congressional calls for the administration to address the issue as a top priority in bilateral talks. Trump is scheduled to host Xi at the White House on Wednesday and Thursday, with the detention of US citizens among the agenda items.
White House confirms Trump will raise detained Americans with Xi
Yufang Rong, wife of Youlin Chen, a US expert on North Korean nuclear tests imprisoned in China since late 2024, said she was assured by administration officials that Trump would directly raise her husband’s case with Xi. Chen, who holds dual US-Chinese citizenship, was designated by the US government as "wrongfully detained" in 2025. His research, funded by US institutions, relied on publicly available data and involved collaboration with Chinese scientists, according to Rong. She expressed concern that Chinese authorities planned to prosecute Chen on fabricated espionage charges. A senior US official, speaking anonymously, stated that "resolving the wrongful detentions of US citizens is always a top priority for the president."
Separately, the White House confirmed Trump would also press Xi to release Min Zin, a scholar arrested in June 2025, also designated as wrongfully detained. The administration did not provide additional details on the charges or circumstances surrounding Zin’s detention.
Families of detained Americans plead for action ahead of summit
Advocacy groups and family members of detained individuals intensified public pressure on Trump ahead of the summit. Nelson Wells Jr., a US Army veteran’s son, has been imprisoned in China for 12 years on charges his family disputes. Diagnosed with hepatitis C, chronic pain, high blood pressure, diabetes, and seizures, Wells Jr. is set for release in 2041—unless his health deteriorates further. His daughter, now 12, has never met him outside photographs. Wells appealed to Trump in a congressional hearing on September 22, stating, "He’s sick. His family has suffered. There’s no justice in allowing him to die in prison."
Tim Hunt, whose sister Dawn Michelle Hunt was arrested in 2014 for alleged drug smuggling (charges her family denies), also testified at the hearing. Both families joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers urging Trump to prioritize political prisoners during the summit. Senators Ted Budd (R-NC) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) sent a letter to Trump on September 22, calling for the release of prisoners of conscience, including religious minorities such as Uyghur Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists, Christians, and Falun Gong practitioners.
Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri’s release cited as precedent
Lawmakers pointed to the recent release of Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri, a house-church leader detained in October 2025, as evidence that US pressure can yield results. Jin was freed in July, less than two months after Trump raised his case with Xi during a May meeting in Beijing. His eight co-workers remain imprisoned. Jin testified before Congress on September 22, describing the persecution of lawyers representing detained Christians and the denial of normal communication with families.
Broader context of detentions and allegations
The families and advocates describe conditions in Chinese prisons as severe. Gao Pu, a Chinese Christian who applied for asylum in the US after studying there in 2007, detailed the treatment of his elderly parents, Pastor Gao Quanfu and Pang Yu, both imprisoned in 2014. Gao described overcrowded cells, limited food, and violent abuse, including the recent beating of his 70-year-old father. His mother, 69, suffers from high blood pressure, chest pain, and severe bruising, yet is forced to stand for hours daily without rest.
Dr. Gulshan Abbas, a Uyghur physician, was sentenced to 20 years on fabricated charges in 2023, six days after her sister—a US citizen—spoke in Washington about the Uyghur genocide. Abbas has 24 American relatives advocating for her release, which advocates argue would signal that China cannot suppress free speech on US soil without consequence.
Chinese government response
A spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry, Guo Jiakun, stated that the detained Americans are "suspected of engaging in activities that endanger China’s national security and violate Chinese law." Guo added, "China is a country with rule of law, and there is no such thing as wrongful detention."
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) told reporters that he believes the "release of the hostages" is on the summit agenda. Five Democratic lawmakers have provided the White House with a list of 22 prisoners for Trump to address during the talks. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), who hosted multiple hearings on the issue, stated, "We’re all God’s children. If we don’t raise [this cause], who will?"
What to watch next
The summit’s outcome could determine whether additional detained Americans are freed or face prolonged imprisonment. Advocates emphasize that Trump’s direct intervention in Jin’s case demonstrates the potential impact of high-level diplomatic pressure. The administration has not specified whether other detained Americans, such as those mentioned in congressional letters, will be addressed during the talks.