Trump personally asked Xi Jinping to help resolve case of UCLA basketball players arrested in China

[DonViejo]

Source: The Washington Post



By David Nakamura November 13 at 11:15 AM

MANILA — President Trump personally asked his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, to help resolve the case of three UCLA men's basketball players who were arrested for shoplifting while in Hangzhou for a tournament last week, people familiar with the situation said Monday.

Trump raised the arrests during a two-day state visit to Beijing, arriving a day after the three freshman players had been accused of stealing sunglasses from a Louis Vuitton store next to the team's hotel. Guard LiAngelo Ball, brother of Los Angeles Lakers rookie guard Lonzo Ball, and forwards Cody Riley and Jalen Hill did not play in the team's victory over Georgia Tech on Saturday in Shanghai. They did not fly home with the team, and ESPN has reported that authorities have surveillance footage and that the players could be required to remain in Hangzhou for a week or two.

After Trump raised the matter, Xi promised to look into the case and ensure that the players be treated fairly and expeditiously, said a U.S. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation. Chief of Staff John F. Kelly has been in touch with the families of the players and spoken with UCLA coach Steve Alford, and Kelly remains in contact with Chinese authorities, the official added. This official indicated that charges against the players have been reduced and that the case is proceeding toward a resolution.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders confirmed in an email that Trump raised the matter with Xi.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/11/13/trump-personally-asked-xi-jinping-to-help-resolve-case-of-ucla-basketball-players-arrested-in-china

[Turbineguy]

1. What was trump thinking?

That's the sort of thing that Obama would have done.

What's wrong with that guy?

[C Moon]

2. I don't know much about this story, but why would someone try to shoplift in China...of all places?

Scary consequences.

[Irish_Dem]

6. Everyone knows you do not go to China and commit any sort of crime.

There are no rights, due process, or fair trials.

These guys were idiots.

[johnnylol]

9. china theft...

i guess they felt as americans they would get off....and they probably will get off...and be allowed to leave the country...

[Nitram]

11. The kind of guys who steal propaganda posters in North Korea.

Morons.

[Freethinker65]

3. Trump needs this.

If he gets some credit for getting these kids released, so be it.

If the kids did shoplift, at a minimum they should be kicked off the team and put on probation at UCLA. They should not get a photo op with Trump.

[exboyfil]

4. Why shouldn't they be prosecuted

under Chinese law. I would expect them to get no more assistance from the State department than any other US citizen.

[Irish_Dem]

7. If China has video of them stealing and/or found the stolen goods in their hotel room,

they are going to Chinese prison. Unless the State Dept. intervenes.

If they are guilty, America is going to have to give up something to get these guys
off. Chinese is not going to do something for the US without the expectation of some
sort of return.

[LisaL]

12. At what age do people stop being kids nowdays?

Those are adult males, not kids. Not sure why you think they should get off, unlike somebody who isn't an athlete?

[secondwind]

5. My question is ... what were THEY thinking??!!??

[rocktivity]

8. "...(T)he familys shoe and apparel business...opened the first of two pop-up stores in Shanghai...

...In concert with the middle sons expected participation in the game...Big Baller Brand...the family’s shoe and apparel business...opened the first of two pop-up stores in Shanghai Friday. At the event, LaVar Ball declined to answer questions...after he had canceled a news conference to promote the opening. The father appeared to get himself in hot water last week for saying the incident wasn’t a big deal..."

No, it wouldn't be a big deal in the United States -- indeed, it probably would have enhanced LiAngelo's "street cred" and earned them him a "Johnny Manziel" wrist slap like sitting out the first half of a game. As for LaVar, it's a welcome bump in the road on his quest to unseat Kris Jenner as reigning pimp-ager: his deafening silence is very soothing.

P.S. Don't be surprised if LiAngelo's compatriots confess to having done the actual stealing -- they're dispensible.


rocktivity

[Nitram]

10. Right. That's an issue of major importance to national security.

They should spend some time in the Chinese prison system. Stupid morons.

[Abouttime]

13. Let's wait till we hear the whole story

Last edited Tue Nov 14, 2017, 12:43 AM - Edit history (1)

This could be an anti-American ploy? Maybe these boys were set up? Maybe they thought they were given the merchandise and they just walked out of the store under the glare of hidden cameras unaware that a crime had been committed?
I don't believe these boys could be so stupid. I don't put anything beyond this evil administration, do we really think it's just some coincidence that 3 young black men are jailed on the eve of tRumps arrival? And that tRump is able to play the hero by arranging the release of these hostages?
This stinks to high heaven, these kids are pawns in a reality TV drama directed by our thief in chief.

[EL34x4]

14. Why are you calling adult black males "boys"?

Calling a grown black man "boy" was something that whites did in the Jim Crow south and there are racist undertones to this.

[Abouttime]

15. Young men, kids did you ever read what I wrote?

I said these kids were set up to make tRump look the hero! If ANYTHING is rascist in this situation it's trump sticking his nose into it.
And just look at the news today! Trump is taking credit for personally arranging for these young men to be released.
These are kids, late teens to 20 years old, far from grown men and it's sad they were used as pawns in an international diplomatic setting.