Saudi Arabia has released U.S. citizen Saad Almadi after four years of imprisonment, a move attributed to the efforts of President Donald Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Almadi, a retired engineer and long-time U.S. resident since 1976, was detained in 2021 during a family visit to Riyadh and faced terrorism charges related to online posts critical of the royal family. These charges were subsequently reduced to cybercrime, and although he was released from prison in 2023, an exit ban restricted his return to the United States.
Almadi’s family expressed deep gratitude for the outcome, highlighting the critical role of Trump and his administration, particularly the National Security Council and the State Department, in securing his release. The family acknowledged the tireless efforts of key figures, including Dr. Sebastian Gorka, and extended thanks to the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh and various congressional members and nonprofit organizations that supported the case over the years.
The case drew attention from human rights groups and U.S. lawmakers, particularly after Almadi was accused of terrorism for his online posts. Some activists suggested renaming a street in Washington in honor of Jamal Khashoggi, a journalist killed 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, where he also met with Almadi’s son at the White House.
The Foley Foundation, which advocates for Americans detained abroad, praised the release, calling it a significant victory for Almadi’s family. Reports indicate that Almadi was flying back to the U.S. from Riyadh on Wednesday after Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman addressed a forum in Washington, D.C.