Saad Almadi, a U.S. citizen who had been detained in Saudi Arabia for four years, was released Wednesday following a series of diplomatic efforts led by the Trump administration. The release came just a day after President Donald Trump met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Washington, D.C., according to the New York Post. Almadi, a retired engineer and U.S. resident since 1976, was detained in 2021 during a family visit to Riyadh and later sentenced to more than 19 years in prison on terrorism charges linked to a series of online posts.
Initially, Almadi faced allegations of terrorism, but the charges were reduced to cybercrime-related offenses. Although he was released from prison in 2023, he remained under an exit ban, preventing him from returning to the United States. His family expressed relief at his release, crediting Trump’s efforts and the administration’s involvement for securing his freedom. ‘Our family is overjoyed that, after four long years, our father, Saad Almadi, is finally on his way home to the United States!’ they said.
The Almadi family’s statement highlighted the significant role of Trump and his administration, particularly Dr. Sebastian Gorka and the National Security Council team, in the successful resolution of their case. They also extended gratitude to the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh and members of Congress who had supported the case over the years. Almadi’s case had drawn attention from human rights groups and U.S. lawmakers, especially after he was accused of terrorism over 14 social media posts. Critics suggested that a street in Washington be renamed in honor of Jamal Khashoggi, who was murdered in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in 2018.
The case also saw increased pressure from the U.S. government to lift Almadi’s exit ban since Trump’s May visit to Saudi Arabia. Sebastian Gorka, a National Security Council member, met with Almadi’s son at the White House. The Foley Foundation, which advocates for Americans detained overseas, praised the news, stating it was ‘so excited’ that the family’s fight had finally succeeded. According to reports, Almadi was flying to the U.S. from Riyadh on Wednesday, after Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman set foot on stage at a forum in Washington.