Albania Protests Against Trump Son-in-Law’s Tourism Investment Enter 14th Day

Thousands of people marched in Tirana, Albania, for a 14th straight day on Saturday night to protest a planned luxury tourism development valued at about $4.6 billion in a protected coastal area on the Adriatic Sea. The project is linked to an investment vehicle associated with Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of former US President Donald Trump, and would include a hotel complex on an abandoned island and nearby shoreline.

The site is considered environmentally sensitive because of its proximity to a lagoon and its importance for migratory birds, including flamingos. Protesters gathered in the center of the capital, using whistles and cardboard flamingo replicas to draw attention to what they say is a threat to the natural habitat and protected species in the area.

The Albanian government argues that the investment will reshape the country’s tourism industry and support its path toward European Union membership. Officials describe the project as a major economic opportunity, but environmental groups and opposition figures say it could cause serious damage to the coast and surrounding ecosystem.

What began as a campaign focused on stopping the development has gradually expanded into a broader political movement. Protesters are now also demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama and calling for early elections. The demonstrations have continued nightly and have become increasingly visible across the capital.

Rama has strongly defended the project and said he has no intention of backing down. In a recent interview, the long-serving socialist prime minister said his government has a strong environmental record and suggested the protests were being fueled by hostile cyber activists from abroad. His comments have not eased public anger, and the demonstrations have continued to grow.

The unrest has also spread beyond Albania, with supporters from Albanian communities in neighboring Greece and other European countries staging solidarity rallies. Members of Albania’s Greek minority have joined the criticism, raising concerns about land ownership in areas tied to the wider tourism plans. They say some property disputes remain unresolved in court, including cases involving land that was previously transferred to the Albanian state through expropriation or contested transactions.

The dispute has now become one of the country’s most visible protests in recent months, combining environmental concerns, property rights disputes, and broader anger at the government’s direction. As the nightly rallies continue, pressure is building on the administration over a project that has become a flashpoint in Albania’s public debate.