Thousands Protest in Albania Against Trump-Linked Tourism Project

Over the weekend, thousands of Albanians resumed protests in the streets of Tirana, calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama and the suspension of a tourism project associated with the family of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Since late May, demonstrators have gathered each evening to oppose the construction of a luxury hotel backed by Ivanka Trump, the president's daughter, and her husband Jared Kushner. The planned development is set within a natural reserve along Albania's coastline.

The protesters accuse Prime Minister Rama of lacking transparency regarding the project. The proposed resort was first announced in 2024 to be built in the Zvernec Nature Reserve in southwestern Albania, but protests intensified after barbed wire and bulldozers appeared on the beaches in late May.

On Saturday night, demonstrators carried large models of pink flamingos amid the crowds, alongside banners demanding the prime minister's resignation.

While no official attendance figures have been released, journalists from Agence France-Presse observed thousands of people gathering nightly in the city center.