Trump Tower in Belgrade? Serbia Faces Backlash Over Controversial Kushner Project
In 1999 the defense ministry building in the capital of Serbia, Belgrade, was bombed by NATO. The ruins are now at the center of a heated debate. Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, plans to build a luxury hotel and apartment complex on the site. The project, three times taller than the original structure, has sparked outrage among architects, historians, and students. Bojan Kovacevic, a renowned Serbian architect and author, calls the design “arbitrary and generic.”
Kushner’s Serbia Project Raises Transparency and Corruption Concerns
The Trump Tower Belgrade project is backed by huge investments from Gulf states like Saudi Arabia and Qatar – but was never publicly tendered. Instead, a deal between Kushner’s Affinity Global Development and the Belgrade government will grant the land for free for 99 years, with Serbia receiving 22% of future profits. Critics, including Transparency International Serbia, highlight the lack of public information, feasibility studies, or economic analysis—fueling suspicions of corruption and political favoritism.
Protests Grow as Belgrade’s Identity Hangs in the Balance
Public opposition is growing. Students and activists are protesting what they see as a sellout of Serbian heritage for private gain. Kovacevic proposes a compromise: restore the building’s historic façade while modernizing its interior. But with the government silent and construction timelines unclear, the future of the General Staff Building remains uncertain. As Serbia grapples with claims of corruption and foreign influence, the Trump Tower Belgrade project has become a flashpoint in the fight for transparency, identity, and democratic accountability.
This video summary was created by AI from the original DW script. It was edited by a journalist before publication.