Trump Says Chinese Leader Helping With Case Against UCLA Players

U.S. President Donald Trump takes part in a welcoming ceremony with China's President Xi Jinping on November 9, 2017 in Beijing, China. Trump is on a 10-day trip to Asia. (Photo by Thomas Peter-Pool/Getty Images)

President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One today that Chinese President Xi Jinping is helping out regarding three UCLA basketball players who have been accused of shoplifting. 

``President Xi has been terrific on that subject,'' Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, bound for Honolulu following the conclusion of his 12- day trip to Asia. ``But that was not a good subject. That was not something that should have happened.''

Trump and Xi met last Thursday in during a two-day state visit to Beijing as part of the president's nearly two-week trip to Asia. 

According to the Wall Street Journal, hours after President Trump spoke with his Chinese counterpart, arrangements were made to send the players back to the United States. The three players, LiAngelo Ball, Cody Riley and Jalen Hill were seen late Tuesday at Shanghai's Pudong International Airport boarding a Delta flight bound for LAX. 

The trio were detained last Tuesday on suspicion of shoplifting sunglasses from a Louis Vuitton store located near the team's hotel in Hangzhou. The team was scheduled to play in China against Georgia Tech on Saturday in Shanghai.

``What they did was unfortunate,'' Trump said. ``You know, you're talking about very long prison sentences. They do not play games.''

President Trump said his trip to Asia has been “tremendously successful.” 


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