In a positive turn of events, the three UCLA basketball players accused of shoplifting in China have been allowed to return to the United States on Tuesday. Many big name celebrities, including Donald Trump, intervened in the Big Baller case. During a two-day state visit in Beijing, the Celebrity-in-Chief personally asked Chinese President Xi to help resolve the case, to which he promised to do so.
Shortly after, LiAngelo Ball, Jalen Hill, and Cody Riley were allowed to return home from Shanghai. Initially, reports revealed the Big Baller could have been facing up to 20 years in Chinese prison for stealing sunglasses from a Louis Vuitton store. However, it was then revealed that the boys would be facing 20 days of house arrest in the luxury Chinese hotel. Days later, the ballers were seen at the Pudong International Airport, boarding a flight home.
Upon learning of their return, Trump commended the Chinese President for stepping in, TMZ reports. “President Xi has been terrific on that subject…But that was not a good subject,” Trump said. “That was not something that should have happened. What they did was unfortunate. You know, you’re talking about very long prison sentences. They [Chinese officials] do not play games.”
