Saudi Arabia just gave the White House a gift no one was prepared for
America and the House of Saud have been growing closer. But the relationship has taken on a new shape.
Because Saudi Arabia just gave the White House a gift no one was prepared for.
Trump’s Personal Diplomacy Secures Freedom for American Detained in Saudi Arabia
In a major diplomatic win, Saudi authorities released U.S. citizen Saad Almadi after four years of detention for his online criticism of the kingdom’s leadership – a breakthrough that came just one day after President Donald Trump’s high-profile meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Washington, D.C.
The 75-year-old retired engineer and longtime Florida resident had faced a nightmare since his 2021 arrest during a family visit to Riyadh.
Initially hit with terrorism charges and a 19-year sentence over social media posts, the charges were later downgraded, leading to his prison release in 2023 – yet an exit ban kept him trapped in the country until now.
Family Hails President Trump’s Decisive Intervention
The Almadi family released an emotional statement filled with gratitude, directly crediting President Trump for bringing their father home.
“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.
“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 extend our thanks to the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh for keeping our father safe, and to the nonprofit organizations and members of Congress who fought for his freedom,” the statement read.
Another Trump Triumph in Bringing Americans Home
Almadi’s case had garnered significant attention from human rights organizations and lawmakers, particularly because his alleged “terrorism” stemmed from just 14 tweets – including one calling for a Washington street to be renamed in honor of slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Pressure on Riyadh had steadily built, accelerating after President Trump’s successful May visit to the kingdom and intensifying further through direct engagement by National Security Council member Sebastian Gorka, who met personally with Almadi’s son at the White House.
The Foley Foundation, which champions wrongfully detained Americans abroad, celebrated the outcome, declaring they were “so excited” that the family’s long battle had finally ended in victory.
According to reports, Almadi boarded a flight from Riyadh bound for the United States last Wednesday – a powerful reminder of President Trump’s unmatched record of bringing detained Americans home through strength, relationships, and deal-making.
