Albania erupts in mass protests over Trump-linked Kushner resort project; PM defiant
Thousands of Albanians have taken to the streets for five days protesting a $1.6 billion luxury resort development linked to Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump on a former military base, with demonstrations spreading across Tirana and the diaspora joining globally. Prime Minister Rama has dismissed the protests and vowed to continue the project, while the EU expresses concern and opposition cuts across civil society.
Why it matters
The clash crystallizes a tension at the heart of Albania's EU accession bid—accelerated under Rama with positive recent signals from Brussels—between courting large foreign investment and meeting EU environmental and transparency standards. The Kushner connection ties domestic Albanian politics to the Trump administration, making a local zoning fight a test of governance, rule of law, and how Tirana balances Western capital against accession obligations.
🔎 Ground signal
Local anger is aimed less at Kushner or the Trumps than at Rama's government and the opaque way permits were issued; diaspora youth in New York and New Jersey have joined solidarity protests, and demonstrators are now calling for Rama's resignation.