Saudi Arabia has released a U.S. citizen, Saad Almadi, who had been held in custody for over four years on charges related to social media posts critical of the royal family. The release occurred just a day after President Donald Trump met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Washington, D.C., according to reports. Almadi, 75, a retired engineer and U.S. resident since 1976, was detained in 2021 during a family visit to Riyadh and later sentenced to over 19 years in prison on terrorism charges tied to a series of online posts. The charges were later reduced to cyber crimes, and although he was released from prison in 2023, he remained under an exit ban that prohibited his return to the United States. His family expressed deep gratitude to Trump and his administration for their involvement, highlighting the tireless efforts of the National Security Council and the State Department. The case also drew attention from human rights groups and U.S. lawmakers, with some suggesting that a street in Washington be renamed after Jamal Khashoggi, a journalist murdered in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in 2018. U.S. pressure to lift Almadi’s exit ban intensified following Trump’s May visit to Saudi Arabia, and Sebastian Gorka, a member of the National Security Council, met with Almadi’s son at the White House. The Foley Foundation, which advocates for Americans detained overseas, praised the news, expressing excitement that the family’s long fight had succeeded. Almadi was flying to the U.S. from Riyadh on Wednesday, according to his family, after Trump and the crown prince set foot on stage at a forum in Washington. The release marks a significant moment in the complex relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia, with the Trump administration playing a key role in resolving Almadi’s case, which has had implications for diplomatic and human rights discussions.