How Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner Sparked a Major Crisis in Albania

The family of US President Donald Trump is planning a massive project in Albania to transform the wild island of Sazan into a luxury resort and hotel, a move that has sparked widespread controversy in the country.

According to reports, Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is seeking approval from Albanian authorities to develop the island, located off the Adriatic coast.

The island, which remained closed for decades due to its use as a military base during the communist era, still retains remnants of old fortifications, abandoned warehouses, and unexploded ordnance, making any development there a significant security risk.

The project also faces objections from environmental activists and local associations who have warned of the destruction of the island's unique ecosystem and the encroachment on its historical heritage, which stretches from Roman times to the Italian occupation.

Criticisms also focus on the lack of transparency and official documentation regarding permits, amid accusations that the government is violating the rule of law and bypassing public consultations in protected areas.

Tourism Project

Ivanka Trump, daughter of US President Donald Trump, faced sharp criticism after publicly praising a $1.6 billion luxury tourism project on the island of Sazan, backed by her husband Jared Kushner's company, Affinity Partners.

She explained that the island had captivated her and her husband since their first visit, describing the project as the culmination of her extensive experience in real estate, her travels around the world, and her personal vision of the lifestyle she aspires to in the future.

However, these statements drew criticism and ridicule from Trump's opponents, who considered them detached from reality amidst the public, political, and environmental controversy surrounding the project.

One user commented: “How can she boast about this in front of millions suffering in a struggling economy? This is completely out of touch with reality.”

Ivanka’s remarks also raised questions about the transparency of the licensing process and the potential economic benefits for local residents.

Critics argue that the timing of the government’s approval of the Sazan project raises questions about its connection to US politics.

Meanwhile, concerns are growing that Albania is becoming a new destination for controversial foreign investments in luxury projects that disregard environmental and social considerations.

The Sazan Island project received initial approval from the Albanian government in December 2024, shortly after the re-election of US President Donald Trump.

Officials said that Kushner and Trump visited Albania this year as part of talks with the government to promote the project.

Albanian authorities granted the project strategic investor status, which allows for expedited administrative procedures and faster government approvals.

The timing of this approval has raised questions among critics who believe the Albanian government may be seeking to strengthen its ties with the new US administration by supporting a project directly linked to the Trump family.

Albanian officials have rejected these accusations, asserting that the project is subject to the country's laws and procedures.

Popular Protests

The capital, Tirana, witnessed mass protests this week against the project linked to Jared and Ivanka. 

Tensions escalated after videos circulated showing security guards attacking protesters, prompting authorities to suspend police officers and revoke the licenses of two private security companies.

Protesters outside the office of Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama held up banners bearing images of pink flamingos, chanting slogans demanding the project's cancellation and the government's resignation. 

Their slogans emphasized that Albania is not for sale and that corrupt politicians cannot decide the fate of its natural heritage.

Environmental groups and protesters rejected an offer of dialogue from Prime Minister Rama, insisting that bulldozers be withdrawn and the fence surrounding the site removed before any negotiations could begin.

The project, which spans a large stretch of coastline, aims to transform the area into a luxury tourist destination with approximately 10,000 hotel rooms and villas. 

It is situated in an ecologically sensitive area that includes wetlands and marine habitats crucial for migratory birds and rare species such as flamingos and sea turtles.

Environmentalists warned that the arrival of heavy machinery at the site would threaten vast areas of pristine beaches, destroy nesting sites for sea turtles and seals, and impact thousands of migratory birds that make the reserve their annual home.

It is reported that heavy equipment had already begun destroying ancient sand dunes and pine forests to construct access roads, threatening wildlife and rare bird species such as flamingos and pelicans.

These developments prompted Albania’s Special Courts against Corruption (SPAK) to launch a formal investigation into controversial legislative amendments passed in 2024 concerning protected areas, including Lake Vjosa-Narta and Sazan Island.

The investigation aims to determine whether the amendments to nature reserves paved the way for the tourism project, which received formal approval from Prime Minister Edi Rama in December 2025.

For his part, the Prime Minister defended the project as a cornerstone for attracting investment, creating jobs, and transforming the country into a high-end tourist destination.

He noted that discussions with investors are ongoing and that environmental studies are still pending, while the developers affirmed their commitment to responsible management and environmental improvement.

Economy Minister Delina Ibrahimaj stated that environmental impact assessments are being prepared to ensure full compliance with European and local legislation for habitat protection.

Political Stakes

Kushner is facing increasing scrutiny regarding the activities of his investment fund, Affinity Partners, which continued to expand its international operations during Trump's second term, including projects in other parts of the world, such as Gaza.

Critics have repeatedly raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest related to Kushner's business dealings, given his current role as special envoy to his father-in-law, President Donald Trump.

His investment fund, Affinity Partners, relies heavily on external funding, with previous reports indicating that the majority of its capital comes from sovereign wealth funds in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Kushner also revealed that he learned about investment opportunities in Albania through Richard Grenell, the US Special Envoy, who, according to media reports, played a key role in connecting the fund with business opportunities in the region.

The project has also been linked to Albanian businessmen Shefqet Kastrati and his son, Musa Kastrati.

Kushner said he discovered Sazan Island during a cruise on a yacht owned by British investor Nathaniel Rothschild, a member of the prominent Rothschild family, but he emphasized that there were no indications of the family's direct involvement in the project.

However, the demise of a similar project in Serbia offers a cautionary tale. In November, Serbia's Parliament passed a special law to enable the building of a luxury complex in the capital, Belgrade, to be financed by an investment company linked to Kushner.

The following month, Serbia's prosecutor for organized crime charged four people, including a government minister, with abuse of office and falsifying documents to help pave the way for the development.

Kushner later withdrew from the planned multi-million investment that would have replaced a sprawling bombed-out military complex, a designated heritage zone whose legal protection was lifted by the former officials now on trial.

Officials denied any wrongdoing, while Affinity explained that it ended its involvement because large-scale projects should be a unifying force, not a source of division within communities.

To date, actual construction has not begun on either project, final plans have not been formally submitted to the Albanian government, and some details are still under negotiation.

There is no publicly announced timeline for the completion of the Sazan or Zvrinc resorts, and the projects are still in their relatively early stages.

Under the terms of the strategic investor agreement signed in 2024, Kushner’s company will not be taxed for 10 years during construction of the project. 

Despite the Albanian government's commitment to the project, public protests, ongoing investigations, and escalating environmental criticism are making its future far more complicated than when it was first announced.

Between promises to transform the Albanian coast into a global tourist destination and warnings of long-term environmental and political repercussions, the project's fate remains uncertain.

Forbes estimates Kushner's net worth at around $1 billion, making him one of the most prominent American investors with complex real estate and political stakes outside the United States.