Three UCLA basketball players who were arrested for shoplifting in China thanked President Trump on Wednesday for intervening on their behalf with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
All three freshmen players — LiAngelo Ball, Jalen Hill, and Cody Riley — offered their gratitude to Trump and the U.S. government at a press conference Wednesday, during which they expressed remorse for stealing sunglasses from a high-end store in Hangzhou, China.
“To President Trump and the U.S. government: Thank you for taking the time to intervene on our behalf,” Riley said. “We really appreciate you helping us out.”
The other two teammates echoed Riley’s statement.
Ball, Hill, and Riley were arrested last week for shoplifting from a Louis Vuitton store. They were released on bail last Wednesday morning, but were detained in China until Tuesday, when they flew back to the U.S.
Trump personally raised the matter of their arrests with Xi, and after they were released, he questioned whether the three UCLA players would thank him for intervening.
“Do you think the three UCLA Basketball Players will say thank you President Trump? They were headed for 10 years in jail!” Trump tweeted Wednesday morning.
All three basketball players are suspended indefinitely from the team.
