Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has hinted that he may reapply for permanent residency in the United States following the conviction of President Donald Trump.
According to a report by Daily Trust on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, the revered playwright and public intellectual made this known in a statement issued on Friday, where he reflected on the global attention that trailed his earlier decision to destroy his U.S. green card in protest after Trump’s 2016 election victory.
Reacting to Trump’s conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records, Soyinka said the development had prompted him to reconsider his stance and possibly seek the restoration of his residency status in the U.S.
“Seeing that this trite, personal gesture attracted such inordinate attention at the time, let me answer the question before it is asked,” the Nobel laureate stated. “Yes, I may choose to apply for restoration of my card of Permanent Residence, known as the Green Card. Possibly.”
Soyinka explained that his initial decision to renounce the card was rooted in principle, describing it as a symbolic act of protest against what he saw as a shift in America’s democratic values during Trump’s administration.
He noted, however, that the recent conviction represented a turning point, which he viewed as a reaffirmation of the strength of democratic institutions and the rule of law.
The Nobel laureate added that his response was not only a reflection of personal reconsideration but also a broader commentary on global justice and political accountability.
His comments came amid renewed public interest in his past declaration to “tear up” his green card — a move that once drew mixed reactions from Nigerians and Americans alike.
Soyinka, who has spent several years teaching and conducting research across universities in the United States, maintained that his principles remain unchanged, even as circumstances evolve.
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