US citizen’s son credits Trump administration for securing father’s Saudi Arabia return

WASHINGTON, DC: Saad Ibrahim Almadi, a 75-year-old US–Saudi dual national, is finally returning to Florida after spending years under travel restrictions in Saudi Arabia.

His release coincided with a high-profile visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Washington, DC. Almadi had been previously detained over social media posts critical of the Saudi government.

Saad Ibrahim Almadi detention in Saudi Arabia

During an appearance on CNN’s “OutFront” with Erin Burnett on Wednesday, November 19, Ibrahim Almadi shared that his father was told his release was “a forgiveness from the king and crown prince.”

Saad, a retired engineer from Florida, was arrested in Saudi Arabia in November 2021 while visiting family. His detention followed social media posts made from the United States, in which he was accused of encouraging Saudi citizens to pursue Lebanese citizenship and criticizing the kingdom’s defenses against Houthi rocket attacks.

More controversially, he voiced support for renaming a street in the US capital after Jamal Khashoggi, the Washington Post columnist who was killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018.

Almadi was initially sentenced to 19 years in prison on terrorism-related charges, though his family later said the charges were reduced to “cyber crimes.” By March 2023, he was released from prison, but Saudi authorities imposed a strict 30-year travel ban, preventing his return home.

Ibrahim Almadi thanks Donald Trump and administration

Following news of Saad’s return, the Almadi family released a statement expressing their joy: “Our family is overjoyed that, after four long years, our father, Saad Almadi, is finally on his way home to the United States.”

They credited President Donald Trump and his administration: “This day would not have been possible without President Donald Trump and the tireless efforts of his administration."

Ibrahim Almadi told CNN, “They really delivered when it comes to my father’s situation. I understand Saudi Arabia is supposed to be an ally, but they’ve been mistreating us for a while. Finally, they are correcting the course regarding my father’s situation.”

He also expressed gratitude to advocacy groups, saying, “We received support from the Foley Foundation, the Middle East Democracy Center, American Hostages NGO, and the Bring Our Families Home Campaign. This case has always been about free speech, and the courageous reporting of Josh Rogin and Steven Nelson ensured our father’s story was heard worldwide.”

News of Almadi’s release came as Trump appeared at a US-Saudi investment conference in Washington, DC. Ibrahim Almadi also believed that his father’s release was directly connected to the state visit by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.