Donald Trump Revokes Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka’s U.S. Visa
Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka has said that the United States government revoked his visa, citing a letter he allegedly received from U.S. authorities.
Soyinka made the disclosure during a public event in Lagos over the weekend, where he reportedly read from a document he described as a formal notice of visa revocation.
“I have just received communication from the U.S. government stating that my visa has been revoked permanently,” the 89-year-old writer said. “It doesn’t surprise me. I have spoken my mind about American leadership, and perhaps this is the price of truth.”
Several Nigerian media outlets, including Leadership and PM News, published reports quoting the Nobel Laureate’s remarks and describing the letter as official correspondence from the U.S. government.
However, as of Monday evening, the United States Embassy in Nigeria and the U.S. Department of State have not issued any statement confirming or commenting on the alleged visa action.
Background and Context
The revelation follows Soyinka’s earlier confrontation with the U.S. Consulate in Lagos. In September, the literary icon declined an invitation to appear for a “re-interview” related to his travel documents, accusing the U.S. mission of what he called “disrespectful bureaucracy.”
At that time, Soyinka criticized former President Donald Trump, describing him as “a white Idi Amin” and warning that the U.S. was losing its moral authority on democracy and human rights.
Soyinka, Africa’s first Nobel Laureate in Literature, has had a long relationship with the United States, having taught at several prestigious institutions including Harvard, Cornell, and Emory University.
In 2016, he famously destroyed his U.S. green card in protest of Trump’s election victory, saying he would not live in a country “that elects a racist to power.”
No Official Confirmation
While multiple Nigerian outlets have carried the story, the alleged visa revocation has not been independently verifiedby U.S. authorities. The U.S. Mission in Nigeria has also not responded to inquiries regarding the reports.
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The U.S. Embassy’s July 2025 policy update introduced stricter documentation and interview requirements for Nigerian visa holders, leading to widespread speculation about high-profile cancellations.
Soyinka has maintained that he will not contest the revocation, saying, “Freedom of movement is a right, not a favour. If a nation withdraws its hospitality, I move on.”
