Trump got his thank you from UCLA players in their first comments on China arrest

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Trump got his thank you from UCLA players in their first comments on China arrest

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Li Angelo Ball

ESPN

  • The three UCLA basketball players arrested in China spoke for the first time about the situation.
  • The players thanked President Donald Trump after he wondered earlier in the day if they would.
  • Trump intervened on the players' behalf during his recent trip to China.


The three UCLA freshman basketball players who were arrested and charged with shoplifting during a trip to China gave President Donald Trump the thank you he was looking for.

Earlier on Wednesday, Trump wondered aloud on Twitter if the players would thank him for intervening on their behalf.

The three players held a press conference late Wednesday morning where they spoke about the incident for the first time. All three players thanked several people, including Trump.

"I would also like to thank President Trump and the United States government for the help they provided as well," said LiAngelo Ball, the younger brother of NBA star Lonzo Ball.

After the players spoke, the UCLA head coach Steve Alford announced that the players had been suspended "indefinitely."

The three players were expected to remain in their hotel in China for up to two weeks as they waited for their case to be resolved. However, they were sent home shortly after Trump made a personal plea to President Xi Jinping of China to assist in the case