Saudi Arabia has released U.S. citizen Saad Almadi, a 75 year old retiree imprisoned over a series of critical social media posts, allowing him to return home to Florida months earlier than scheduled. The development came a day after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met President Donald Trump at the White House, a meeting that appears to have accelerated negotiations over Almadi’s case.

Almadi, who was detained in 2021 during a visit to Riyadh, had been sentenced on charges linked to a handful of tweets posted from the United States that criticized aspects of Saudi governance. Although he was freed from prison in 2023, a foreign travel ban prevented him from returning home, leaving him effectively stranded in Riyadh.

His family confirmed on Wednesday that Saudi authorities lifted the restrictions five months ahead of schedule, expressing gratitude to President Trump and the U.S. State Department for what they described as consistent pressure to secure his release. The timing aligns closely with renewed diplomatic contact between Washington and Riyadh, underscoring the sensitive role individual human rights cases continue to play in bilateral relations.

Almadi’s detention became a symbol of the broader concerns raised by human rights organizations about the kingdom’s crackdown on dissent, including the prosecution of citizens and dual nationals for online activity posted outside Saudi territory. His case had previously drawn protests from U.S. lawmakers, who argued the charges violated basic principles of free expression.

The White House has not disclosed specific terms or discussions that led to the resolution, and Saudi authorities have not commented publicly on the decision. However, regional analysts say the move signals Riyadh’s desire to stabilize ties at a moment when both governments are recalibrating their strategic priorities, including security cooperation, energy coordination and broader regional diplomacy.

Almadi’s return also removes a lingering point of tension ahead of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to expand investment partnerships with American firms and ahead of continued dialogue on Middle East security. For human rights advocates, the outcome is welcome but incomplete, as they continue to call for the lifting of travel bans on other Saudi activists and dissidents who remain restricted from leaving the kingdom.

For Almadi and his family, the release closes a difficult three year chapter marked by detention, uncertainty and legal pressure. His son said the priority now is rebuilding his father’s health and restoring a sense of normalcy after years of separation.