U.S. Citizen Saad Almadi Returns Home After Release from Saudi Arabia During Trump-MBS Summit
Dual U.S.–Saudi national freed and allowed to leave Saudi Arabia as White House hosts crown prince in Washington
A U.S. citizen held in Saudi Arabia for nearly four years has been allowed to return to the United States after his release coincided with a high-profile visit by Saudi Arabia’s crown prince.
Saad Ibrahim Almadi, a 75-year-old dual U.S.–Saudi citizen and Florida resident, arrived back in the U.S. this week after Saudi authorities lifted a travel ban that had prevented his departure.
Almadi was detained in late 2021 during a trip to Riyadh and initially sentenced to a lengthy prison term following a series of tweets critical of the Saudi government.
His son, Ibrahim Almadi, told U.S. media that his father’s freedom would not have been possible without the intervention of President Donald Trump and his administration, praising their “tireless efforts”.
The timing of Almadi’s departure is striking: his release followed a meeting in Washington between Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, at which the United States reaffirmed its alliance with Riyadh.
The elder Almadi’s family described his return as “a forgiveness from the king and crown prince” and signalled that diplomatic pressure from the Trump administration and the U.S. State Department was decisive.
Almadi’s case had drawn attention from human-rights groups and U.S. lawmakers, who had long pressed for his release under an exit ban that had been extended until 2054 in lieu of full custody.
With his travel restrictions lifted, the Florida resident is expected to re-join his family and continue his life in the U.S. The development represents a notable diplomatic win for the Trump administration, underscoring its commitment to repatriating Americans held abroad and reinforcing its strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia.
Saad Ibrahim Almadi, a 75-year-old dual U.S.–Saudi citizen and Florida resident, arrived back in the U.S. this week after Saudi authorities lifted a travel ban that had prevented his departure.
Almadi was detained in late 2021 during a trip to Riyadh and initially sentenced to a lengthy prison term following a series of tweets critical of the Saudi government.
His son, Ibrahim Almadi, told U.S. media that his father’s freedom would not have been possible without the intervention of President Donald Trump and his administration, praising their “tireless efforts”.
The timing of Almadi’s departure is striking: his release followed a meeting in Washington between Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, at which the United States reaffirmed its alliance with Riyadh.
The elder Almadi’s family described his return as “a forgiveness from the king and crown prince” and signalled that diplomatic pressure from the Trump administration and the U.S. State Department was decisive.
Almadi’s case had drawn attention from human-rights groups and U.S. lawmakers, who had long pressed for his release under an exit ban that had been extended until 2054 in lieu of full custody.
With his travel restrictions lifted, the Florida resident is expected to re-join his family and continue his life in the U.S. The development represents a notable diplomatic win for the Trump administration, underscoring its commitment to repatriating Americans held abroad and reinforcing its strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia.
