Massive Protests Erupt in Albania Over Kushner's Island Deal
WHO:
Forbes - Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump, Edi Rama (Albanian Prime Minister), Affinity Partners (Kushner's private equity firm), European Commission, protesters (dubbed the “Flamingo Revolution”).
WHAT:
Forbes - Protests have been dubbed the “Flamingo Revolution” in honor of the iconic pink birds in the area.
PBS - The protests have been ongoing for two weeks, with demonstrators expressing disappointment with the U.S. involvement in local real estate.
PBS - The demonstration on June 10 stretched for half a mile down a major boulevard in Tirana.
Forbes - Thousands of protesters demonstrated in Tirana, Albania, against Kushner’s planned resort development, marking the largest demonstration yet against the project.
Forbes - The two Kushner resort projects in Albania could cost more than $6 billion, with the Sazan island project estimated at $1.4 billion and the coastal resort in Zvernec at approximately $4.7 billion.
Euronews - The proposal for Sazan Island includes a high-end resort featuring hotels, villas, apartments, a marina, and other luxury facilities.
WHERE:
Forbes - Protests occurred outside the Prime Minister's Office in Tirana, Albania.
Euronews - The development is planned for Sazan Island and the Albanian coast.
WHEN:
Forbes - Protests against Kushner’s development have been ongoing since spring, with a significant demonstration occurring on June 10.
Forbes - The Albanian government approved the Sazan island project in December 2024.
Euronews - President Trump formally appointed Kushner as Special Envoy for Peace in February 2026.
Forbes - If Albania's EU bid moves forward, negotiations could wrap up as soon as 2027, with potential EU membership around 2030.
WHY:
Forbes - Protests are driven by environmental concerns over the construction on protected lands that are home to numerous wildlife species.
Forbes - The controversy poses a political threat in Albania, as the European Commission warned it could jeopardize Albania’s bid to join the EU.
Forbes - Protesters demand the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama, who has defended the development.
HOW:
PBS - Videos surfaced showing private security guards violently detaining activists protesting against the luxury development, which has led to penalties against the security by the Albanian government.
PBS - Ivanka Trump stated, “It’s not even a business for me, despite the scale of it,” regarding the development project.
Forbes - Protests have intensified as videos surfaced showing protesters being forcibly removed by private security, leading to penalties against the security by the Albanian government.
Forbes - Prime Minister Rama stated in an interview, “I’m telling you, it's going to be a beautiful project and we're going to do it and we're going to be proud to contribute to Europe.”
(UPDATED June 12, 2026 06:30 UTC)
Protests in Tirana, known as the “Flamingo Revolution” in honor of the area's iconic pink birds, have been ongoing for two weeks as demonstrators voice their disappointment with U.S. involvement in local real estate. A recent demonstration on June 10 stretched for half a mile down a major boulevard, and videos have emerged showing private security guards violently detaining activists, prompting penalties from the Albanian government. Ivanka Trump commented on the luxury development project, stating, “It’s not even a business for me, despite the scale of it.”
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(UPDATED June 11, 2026 19:49 UTC)
Thousands of protesters gathered outside the Prime Minister's Office in Tirana, Albania, marking the largest demonstration yet against Jared Kushner's planned resort developments, which could cost over $6 billion. The protests, driven by environmental concerns and calls for the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama, have intensified following reports of protesters being forcibly removed by private security. As the Albanian government pushes forward with the controversial projects, the European Commission has warned that this could jeopardize Albania's bid to join the EU, with negotiations potentially wrapping up as soon as 2027.