The administration of United States President Donald Trump has revoked the visa of Nigerian Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka after the writer compared Trump to a notorious dictator, according to a report by The Guardian on Tuesday. Wole Soyinka, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986, was once a permanent resident of the United States.
He famously destroyed his green card in protest during Trump’s first term, citing his disapproval of the administration’s policies. The latest move to revoke his visa appears to have deepened the rift between the literary icon and U.S. authorities.
“I want to assure the consulate…that I’m very content with the revocation of my visa,” Soyinka told The Guardian. During a press briefing in Lagos, Nigeria, Soyinka displayed the letter he received from U.S. officials. The letter cited federal regulations that permit “a consular officer, the secretary, or a department official to whom the secretary has delegated this authority…to revoke a nonimmigrant visa at any time, in his or her discretion.”
Describing the correspondence as a “curious love letter,” Soyinka read it aloud to journalists, adding that he found the wording both formal and oddly personal. The development follows Soyinka’s past criticism of Donald Trump. The celebrated writer had drawn parallels between Trump and Idi Amin, the late Ugandan military ruler known for his brutal dictatorship that led to an estimated 500,000 deaths.
Soyinka suggested that his comparison “might have struck a nerve and contributed to the US consulate’s decision,” The Guardian reported. Soyinka has long been known for his outspoken criticism of political leaders around the world. His comparison of Trump to Amin was consistent with his reputation for bold commentary on issues of governance, democracy, and human rights. While U.S. officials have not publicly commented on the decision, Soyinka’s calm reaction suggests he remains unfazed by the action.
The revocation of his visa marks another chapter in the tense relationship between the Nigerian literary figure and U.S. authorities. Despite losing his travel privileges, Soyinka maintained that he feels “very content” with the decision, implying that his stance on freedom of expression and political critique remains unchanged.
The incident highlights ongoing debates about diplomatic discretion and freedom of speech, especially when high-profile cultural figures criticize powerful leaders. For Soyinka, it appears the loss of a visa is a small price to pay for the preservation of his voice.