Chinese pastor freed after Donald Trump raised issue of his release with Xi Jinping

A Chinese pastor has been released from jail after Donald Trump intervened to get him freed, in what his family have described as a "miracle".

Pastor Ezra Jin, the founder of an underground church in China, had been detained in the south of the country since October.

He had been arrested alongside 17 other church members in what was one of China's biggest crackdowns on a single church in decades.

Eight members of Zion Church remain in detention, with nine others recently granted bail.

Pastor Jin arrived in Los Angeles on Saturday and "is finally reunited with his family," Frances Hui of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation wrote on X.

It's understood Pastor Jin's release was prompted by President Trump bringing up the case to Chinese President Xi Jinping during his state visit to Beijing in May.

When wrapping up his state visit, Mr Trump said he raised the issue of the pastor's release with Mr Xi and that the Chinese leader said he would give serious consideration to it.

Pastor Jin's daughter, Grace Jin Drexel, said in a statement that her father's release was a "miracle".

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"Thank you so much for everyone's support and prayers since the beginning," she said.

"We truly witnessed a miracle and we are feeling so overwhelmed with joy. We thank God for this tremendous miracle.

"We also thank President Trump and his administration for their tremendous leadership.

"We know that this could not have happened without the direct intervention from Chairman Xi Jinping.

"We hope this is a signal of a positive turn for people of faith in China and relations between our two nations.

"As this tremendous development all happened so quickly, we ask for your prayers and patience with us as we navigate this critical time."

China's ministry of foreign affairs has not yet commented on the release.

When asked by Sky News previously about conditions for Chinese Christians, a ministry of foreign affairs spokesperson said: "The Chinese government manages religious affairs in accordance with the law and protects people's freedom of religious belief and normal religious activities."

(c) Sky News 2026: Chinese pastor freed after Donald Trump raised issue of his release with Xi Jinping