U.S. has revoked Wole Soyinka’s visa over criticism of Donald Trump.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has disclosed that the United States government has revoked his American visa, in what appears to be a response to his long-standing criticism of former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Soyinka made the revelation on Tuesday during a media parley themed “Unending Saga: Idi Amin In Whiteface!” held at Freedom Park, Lagos.
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According to the playwright, he received an official revocation letter from the U.S. Consulate in Lagos on Thursday, October 23, 2025. Reading the letter aloud, he said the document cited Department of State Regulations 22 CFR 41.122, noting that “additional information became available” after his visa was issued.
The letter read in part:
“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this letter serves as official notification of the United States Consulate that the non-immigrant visa listed below has been revoked pursuant to Department of State Regulations 22 CFR 41.122 and is no longer valid for application into the United States.
Name of visa holder: SOYINKA, WOLE
Date and place of birth: 13-JUL-1934, NIGERIA.
Visa classification: B1/B2
Date and place of visa issuance: 02-APR-2024, Lagos.”
Despite the revocation, the literary icon said he harbours no resentment, insisting that he remains open to engaging with Americans who have “legitimate reasons” to visit him in Nigeria.
“I will continue to welcome any American to my home if they have anything legitimate to do with me,” Soyinka stated.
He further explained that his criticisms of world leaders, including Donald Trump, are part of his lifelong commitment to speaking truth to power and standing against racism, injustice, and bad governance globally.
It will be recalled that in December 2016, shortly after Trump’s election victory, Soyinka publicly tore up his U.S. Green Card in protest, declaring his disapproval of the Trump administration’s policies.
