Saudi Arabia releases jailed US citizen after Trump meeting

Saudi Arabia is releasing an American citizen who was jailed for criticizing the country's royal family on social media, the American's family confirmed Wednesday, just one day after President Donald Trump met with Saudi Arabia's crown prince. 

Trump met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House on Tuesday, where the prince announced a larger investment in the United States than previously disclosed in Trump's first meeting in Saudi Arabia over the summer.

Saudi Arabian authorities arrested 75-year-old Saad Almadi during a family visit in 2021. He was sentenced to more than 19 years on terrorism charges, but was released in 2023 and was banned from leaving the country, according to The Hill.

“This day would not have been possible without President Donald Trump and the tireless efforts of his administration,” the Almadi family said in a statement. “We are deeply grateful to Dr. Sebastian Gorka and the team at the National Security Council, as well as everyone at the State Department.”

Almadi, who legally immigrated to the United States in 1976, was jailed in part for a post on X that called for a street in the country's capital to be renamed after Jamal Khashoggi, a journalist who died at a Saudi Arabian consulate in 2018. 

The crown prince has been accused of ordering the operation that killed Khashoggi, but has denied any involvement.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.