Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has disclosed that his United States visa has been revoked, expressing shock and confusion over the development, which he believes is linked to his criticism of former US President Donald Trump.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday at Kongi’s Harvest Gallery, Freedom Park, Lagos Island, Soyinka revealed that he received a letter from the US Consulate dated October 23, 2025, informing him of the visa revocation.
“It is necessary for me to hold this conference so that people in the United States who are expecting me for this event or that event do not waste their time. I have no visa; I am banned, obviously, from the United States. And if you want to see me, you know where to find me,” he stated.
The Nobel Laureate said he was unaware of any wrongdoing that could have warranted the decision, describing it as “both surprising and puzzling.”
Soyinka suggested that the move may be politically motivated, recalling his history of vocal criticism against Donald Trump and his administration’s policies.
In 2016, he famously destroyed his US green card in protest after Trump’s election victory. He also declined a visa re-interview invitation in September 2025, noting that the date coincided with the anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
