US Revokes Wole Soyinka’s Visa Over Criticism of Trumpx

Wole Soyinka’s US visa revoked by the US Consulate.
He suspects it is linked to his criticism of Donald Trump.
Soyinka says he bears no grudge and stands by his beliefs.

Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has revealed that the United States government has revoked his American visa.

Speaking during a media parley in Lagos on Tuesday, Soyinka said he received the official revocation letter from the US Consulate on Thursday, October 23, 2025. The event, themed “Unending Saga: Idi Amin In Whiteface!”, was held at Freedom Park, Lagos.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that reading the letter aloud, the renowned playwright suggested that the decision might be linked to his long-standing criticism of former US President Donald Trump’s policies.

According to the letter from the US Consulate, “Dear Mr Soyinka, this letter serves as official notification of the United States Consulate that the non-immigrant visa listed below has been revoked pursuant to the Department of State Regulations 22 CFR 41.122 and is no longer valid for application into the United States. Additional information became available after the below visa was issued.

“This revocation refers only to the visa listed below.

Name of visa holder: SOYINKA, WOLE
Date and place of birth: 13-JUL-1934, NIGERIA
Visa classification (symbol): B1/B2
Date and place of visa issuance: 02-APR-2024, Lagos.”

Soyinka, who currently resides in Nigeria, maintained that he harboured no resentment over the revocation, saying, “I will continue to welcome any American to my home if they have anything legitimate to do with me.”

He emphasised that his criticisms of global leaders, including Donald Trump, stemmed from his duty as a global citizen committed to speaking against racism, injustice, and bad governance.

It would be recalled that in December 2016, shortly after Trump’s election victory, Soyinka publicly tore up his US Green Card in protest, declaring his disapproval of the new administration.