Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has hinted that he might reapply for U.S. permanent residency following the conviction of President Donald Trump.
According to a report by Daily Trust on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, the renowned playwright made this known in a statement issued on Friday, where he reflected on the global attention that surrounded his earlier decision to destroy his U.S. green card after Trump’s 2016 election victory.
Reacting to Trump’s conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records, Soyinka said the outcome had made him reconsider his earlier stance and think about restoring his U.S. residency status.
“Since this trivial, personal gesture once drew such unnecessary attention,, let me respond before anyone asks,” Soyinka said. “Yes, I might decide to reapply for the restoration of my Permanent Residence card the Green Card. Possibly.”
Soyinka explained that he had renounced the card on principle, describing it as a symbolic protest against what he believed was a decline in America’s democratic values during Trump’s presidency.
He, however, noted that Trump’s conviction marks a significant turning point, showing the resilience of democratic institutions and the rule of law.
The Nobel laureate emphasized that his remarks reflected not only personal reconsideration but also a broader reflection on justice and political accountability.
His comment reignited public debate about his earlier decision to “tear up” his green card a gesture that once stirred mixed reactions among Nigerians and Americans.
Soyinka, who has spent many years teaching and researching at U.S. universities, said his values remain the same, even though global political realities continue to change.
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