Nobel Prize winner, aged 91, claims visa was rejected for Trump criticism

Nigerian author and Nobel Prize winner Wole Soyinka says his U.S. visa was revoked due to his criticism of President Donald Trump.

The 91-year-old literary icon, who became the first African to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986, is now barred from entering the United States after his visa was rejected.

Soyinka, widely regarded as one of Africa’s most influential writers and activists, has a long history with the U.S. He previously lived and taught at several American universities and once held a Green Card. However in 2017 he famously tore up his Green Card in protest after Trump’s election win, calling it a symbolic act of resistance against what he saw as divisive policies.

Why was his visa rejected?

Soyinka believes his outspoken criticism of Trump led to the rejection of his non-immigrant visa. He recently referred to Trump as “Idi Amin in white face,” comparing him to the Ugandan dictator known for his brutal rule in the 1970s.

“It’s not about me, I’m not really interested in going back to the United States,” Soyinka said. “But a principle is involved. Human beings deserve to be treated decently wherever they are.”

According to a letter from U.S. immigration authorities, Soyinka’s visa was canceled after officials “obtained additional information after its issuance.” The notice did not specify what that information was. To reenter the country, he would have to reapply for a U.S. visa but Soyinka has said he has no intention of doing so.

Soyinka’s case underscores the lingering impact of Trump-era immigration policies. For Soyinka, the situation represents more than a personal inconvenience, it’s a matter of freedom: “This is not about travel. It’s about respect for humanity.”

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