U.S. citizen Saad Almadi freed by Saudi Arabia after being held for critical tweets

A U.S. retiree held in Saudi Arabia over critical tweets has been freed months ahead of schedule, his son said, a day after Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman appeared hand-in-hand with President Donald Trump at the White House."Our family is overjoyed that, after four long years, our father, Saad Almadi, is finally on his way home," his family said in a statement posted Wednesday by his son Ibrahim on X. Riyadh authorities jailed and then banned Saad Almadi, 75, from leaving the country two years ago, downgrading his previous 19-year sentence that was handed down in 2021

A U.S. retiree held in Saudi Arabia over critical tweets has been freed months ahead of schedule, his son said, a day after Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman appeared hand-in-hand with President Donald Trump at the White House.

"Our family is overjoyed that, after four long years, our father, Saad Almadi, is finally on his way home," his family said in a statement posted Wednesday by his son Ibrahim on X.

Riyadh authorities jailed and then banned Saad Almadi, 75, from leaving the country two years ago, downgrading his previous 19-year sentence that was handed down in 2021.

Trump Defends Saudi Crown Prince During Controversial Visit02:24Ibrahim told CNN that his father, originally from Boca Raton, Florida, was arriving in Philadelphia on Thursday, crediting the Trump administration for his release.

"This day would not have been possible without President Donald Trump and the tireless efforts of his administration," the family said in a statement, also thanking Trump official Sebastian Gorka.