In brief
The controversial project spearheaded by Jared Kushner has sparked resignations and highlighted significant ethical issues over its impact on Serbian heritage.
June 9, 2025, 12:25 p.m. ETThe Trump family is facing a backlash in Serbia as plans for a half-billion-dollar hotel and apartment complex, led by Jared Kushner, encounter fierce opposition. This project, aiming to establish a Trump-branded luxury hotel in Belgrade, was cleared for development by Serbian authorities, despite potential cultural implications.Following the re-election of President Trump, the Serbian government quickly removed the site’s designation as a culturally protected area. The building in question is a remnant of the 1999 conflict, symbolizing national suffering, raising alarm among local architects and preservationists.A group of concerned cultural guardians, including former deputy director of the Republic Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments, Estela Radonjic Zivkov, have voiced objections. They assert the Serbian government has acted illegally, and they received pressure from state officials to abandon their resistance.This situation not only highlights ethical dilemmas but has also led to resignations within the cultural protection agency, amidst fears of political interference on a sensitive project backed by the Trump Organization.
