This real estate endeavor has ignited a criminal inquiry into government officials, posing ethical concerns amid ongoing relationships between the Trump family and foreign governments.
Trump Family Real Estate Venture Sparks Controversy and Investigation in Serbia
Trump Family Real Estate Venture Sparks Controversy and Investigation in Serbia
A Trump-branded hotel project led by Jared Kushner faces significant backlash, with preservationists rallying against it in Serbia.
June 9, 2025, 12:25 p.m. ET
In a striking turn of events, the Trump family’s expansive global real estate pursuits have hit a major snag in Serbia, driven by a committed group of cultural preservationists. The planned construction of a Trump-branded hotel and apartment complex, spearheaded by Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law, is now the subject of a criminal investigation concerning local officials.
The contentious site in question is a bombed-out building that stands as a painful reminder of Serbian suffering during the 1999 conflict. Despite its historic significance, the Serbian government expedited the project's approval shortly after Trump's reelection, controversially declaring the site no longer a culturally protected property.
This declaration faced immediate backlash from professionals at the state-run Republic Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments. Dozens of architects and cultural historians vocally opposed the government’s ruling, arguing that the status of the site as an “immovable cultural property” could not be altered without expert consensus, which had not been provided.
Estela Radonjic Zivkov, formerly the deputy director at the institute, acknowledged the considerable political pressure to comply with the government’s interests, yet she chose to challenge the decision regardless. Her assertion that the move was politically motivated has drawn sharp attention to the ethical implications surrounding this high-profile real estate deal involving the Trump Organization and its leaders, Eric and Donald Jr.
The consequences of the Trump family’s expansive international dealings are beginning to unravel, signaling potential ramifications for both the Serbian government and the Trump brand as citizens and preservationists continue to fight for the protection of their cultural heritage.
In a striking turn of events, the Trump family’s expansive global real estate pursuits have hit a major snag in Serbia, driven by a committed group of cultural preservationists. The planned construction of a Trump-branded hotel and apartment complex, spearheaded by Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law, is now the subject of a criminal investigation concerning local officials.
The contentious site in question is a bombed-out building that stands as a painful reminder of Serbian suffering during the 1999 conflict. Despite its historic significance, the Serbian government expedited the project's approval shortly after Trump's reelection, controversially declaring the site no longer a culturally protected property.
This declaration faced immediate backlash from professionals at the state-run Republic Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments. Dozens of architects and cultural historians vocally opposed the government’s ruling, arguing that the status of the site as an “immovable cultural property” could not be altered without expert consensus, which had not been provided.
Estela Radonjic Zivkov, formerly the deputy director at the institute, acknowledged the considerable political pressure to comply with the government’s interests, yet she chose to challenge the decision regardless. Her assertion that the move was politically motivated has drawn sharp attention to the ethical implications surrounding this high-profile real estate deal involving the Trump Organization and its leaders, Eric and Donald Jr.
The consequences of the Trump family’s expansive international dealings are beginning to unravel, signaling potential ramifications for both the Serbian government and the Trump brand as citizens and preservationists continue to fight for the protection of their cultural heritage.
