In a notable diplomatic development, Saudi Arabia has released a US citizen, Saad Almadi, who had been detained for over four years, following President Donald Trump’s meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Almadi, a retired engineer and US resident since 1976, was initially detained in 2021 during a family visit to Riyadh. The initial charges against him were terrorism-related, stemming from his social media posts criticizing the royal family. However, these charges were later reduced to cyber crime charges, and although he was released from prison in 2023, Almadi remained under an exit ban, preventing him from returning to the US.
The Almadi family expressed profound gratitude towards President Trump and the administration for successfully resolving the situation, emphasizing the role of the National Security Council and the State Department in achieving this outcome. His family’s statement highlighted the importance of Trump’s diplomatic efforts, with specific mention of Dr. Sebastian Gorka and the team at the National Security Council. Additionally, they thanked the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh for ensuring Almadi’s safety and acknowledged the support from nonprofit organizations and members of Congress who had fought for his freedom.
The case of Saad Almadi drew significant attention from human rights groups and U.S. lawmakers, particularly due to the nature of the charges. Some have called for a street in Washington to be renamed after Jamal Khashoggi, who was murdered in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in 2018. The 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, also met with Almadi’s son at the White House. The Foley Foundation, which advocates for Americans detained overseas, praised the resolution, expressing excitement at the successful outcome of the family’s fight. As per reports, Almadi was flying to the U.S. from Riyadh on Wednesday, following the meeting between Trump and the crown prince at a forum in Washington. Fox News Digital has reached out to Gorka, the State Department, and the White House for further comment on the matter.