Trump's family plans to build on NATO-bombed ruins
In June, US President Donald Trump proudly claimed that he managed to stop a ”big war” between Serbia and Kosovo because of trade. Serbia's response was collective surprise: ”What is bro talking about?” was the dominant comment on social media. Lately, the country has been facing mass protests against the government, and Kosovo hasn't been anywhere near the headlines. So, what exactly was Trump talking about? And why now?
While his comments may not be directly about Kushner's deal, there is one that has been shaking up Serbia's public for more than a year: Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is planning to build a luxury hotel and reportedly more than 1,500 residences in Belgrade – on the ruins of the former Yugoslav Ministry of Defence, a protected cultural heritage site and symbol of the 1999 NATO bombings.
And it's not just that: Kushner's Belgrade project is facing growing scrutiny amid allegations of document forgery, intimidation of heritage officials, and behind-the-scenes political influence – prompting a US congressional investigation and casting doubt on the deal's future.
Corruption in Serbia, unfortunately, is no surprise. But this case shows how the Trump clan seems willing to engage with dubious regimes when money is on the table. As Trump re-emerged as the Republican front-runner ahead of last year’s US election, Kushner pursued deals in Albania and Serbia, leveraging ties with their leaders.
Meanwhile, Trump reportedly accepted more than $7.8 million in unconstitutional payments from foreign states during his first term, including some of the world's most authoritarian and corrupt regimes.