A U.S. citizen has been freed from Saudi Arabian imprisonment a day after President Trump met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The U.S. citizen, Saad Almadi, criticized the Saudi government online and was detained in 2021. He was later sentenced to more than 19 years in prison on terrorism charges.
According to a report from The New York Post, Almadi’s social media posts were “relatively benign by American standards — including urging Saudi citizens to seek Lebanese citizenship and faulting the nation’s defense against inbound Houthi rockets from Yemen.”
“Our family is overjoyed that, after four long years, our father, Saad Almadi, is finally on his way home to the United States!” Almadi’s family said in a statement. “This day would not have been possible without President Donald Trump and the tireless efforts of his administration. We are deeply grateful to Dr. Sebastian Gorka and the team at the National Security Council, as well as everyone at the State Department. We also extend our thanks to the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh for keeping our father safe these past four years.” Almadi’s family also thanked House Speaker Mike Johnson and his staff, as well as several non-governmental organizations.
“This case has always been about free speech, and the courageous voices of Josh Rogin and Steven Nelson ensured our father’s story was heard around the world,” the statement added. “Thank you for everyone who stood by us during this horrific ordeal. We hope the support and care we received will continue for those still held hostage in Saudi Arabia and in other parts of the world.”
