Saudi Arabia has lifted the long-standing travel ban on US citizen Saad Almadi, allowing him to fly home to Florida after four years of legal limbo. The move coincided strikingly with President Donald Trump’s public praise of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, signalling a dramatic reset in Washington–Riyadh relations and a renewed closeness between the two leaders.
Almadi, a 75-year-old retired project manager, had been arrested during a 2021 trip to Saudi Arabia over several tweets he posted while living in Boca Raton. He was sentenced to 19 years in prison on charges tied to terrorism laws, sparking outrage among US lawmakers and rights groups. Although released from prison in 2023, he remained trapped in the kingdom under a strict travel ban, with officials warning that pushing for his passport could result in a fresh trial.
His return was abruptly authorised on Wednesday. The timing drew immediate notice: moments earlier, Trump had appeared on stage with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, celebrating a renewed partnership between the two nations and praising the Saudi leader’s “incredible” progress on human rights. Trump offered no details but suggested that social reforms introduced in recent years were proof of wider improvements.
Almadi’s family expressed immense relief, saying they were grateful that the ordeal had finally ended. Almadi’s son, Ibrahim, publicly thanked the Trump administration, crediting officials across the National Security Council and State Department for securing his father’s release. He also singled out House Speaker Mike Johnson and other supporters who had advocated on the family’s behalf.
According to US media, Almadi was already in the air within minutes of Trump and the crown prince appearing together at an investment forum. He is expected to land in the United States by Friday morning, and his family has said they hope he will be able to visit the White House to personally thank the president before returning home to Boca Raton.
The resolution of Almadi’s case underscores a broader diplomatic realignment. After years of tensions following the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the Trump administration has embraced a dramatically warmer tone toward Riyadh, with both sides presenting the relationship as newly stabilised and forward-looking.
