Jun 12 , 2026 | When Ivanka Trump jumped off a friend's superyacht near Albania, she came back with more than a tan. She came back with a $1.4 billion development plan. This is the story of Ken and Barbie's Island — how Jared Kushner, bankrolled by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and other Gulf states, is attempting to turn Sazan Island, a former Russian military base of outstanding natural beauty, into an exclusive playground for the global elite.
In this video I cover:
• How the Albanian government secretly rushed through legislation to enable the sale
• The history of Sazan Island — and why destroying it matters
• The Albania protests that have rocked the country for over ten days
• Kushner's track record on similar projects in Serbia — and why it doesn't inspire confidence
• The criminal investigation launched by Albania's anti-corruption prosecutors (SPAK)
And I ask the obvious question: when the son-in-law of the most powerful man on earth comes knocking, just how much does Albanian democracy cost? This is a story about wealth, corruption, environmental destruction — and the extraordinary reach of Trump family power.
Jun 10, 2026 | Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law, has finalized a deal with Albanian officials to allow construction on Sazan Island in the Adriatic Sea.
The $1.6bn project is expected to build luxury tourism real estate on the pristine island and surrounding waters and wetlands. Spurned [sic] by the potential environmental impact of the plan and the possibility of corrupt dealings, demonstrators have taken to the streets of Albania's capital city demanding an end to the project.
Cate Brown, the Guardian's political enterprise reporter, examines what the Kushner real estate deal on Sazan Island can teach us on how Donald Trump’s son-in-law pursues real estate ventures and examines why Albania isn't alone in its fight
Jun 7, 2026 | A major luxury development linked to Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner is facing growing backlash in Albania, where thousands of protesters have taken to the streets against the proposed $1.4 billion Sazan Island project.
Demonstrators have targeted the development, backed by Kushner's Affinity Partners, with some invoking Jeffrey Epstein as they criticize the plan.
The controversy has intensified scrutiny of the high-profile project and fuelled debate over its political, environmental and economic impact on the Balkan nation.
Jun 5, 2026 | Thousands of Albanians have taken to the streets to protest a proposed $1.6 billion luxury resort linked to Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump.
Supporters say the project will bring jobs, investment and tourism. Critics argue it raises questions about transparency, political influence, environmental protection, and Albania's ambitions to join the European Union.
Casey Michel of the Human Rights Foundation joins DW News to examine what the controversy reveals about foreign investment, political power and the global influence of the Trump family.
Jun 5, 2026 | Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Tirana, Albania, opposing a €1.4 billion ($1.6 billion) luxury resort project linked to Jared Kushner's investment firm. Demonstrators accused Prime Minister Edi Rama of allowing development in the environmentally sensitive Zvernec-Narta Lagoon, home to thousands of flamingos and other protected wildlife. Protesters carried banners reading "Albania Is Not For Sale" and demanded the government's resignation, arguing that the project threatens the country's natural and cultural heritage.
Jun 4, 2026 | A multi-billion-euro resort project on Albania’s Adriatic coast - linked to Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump - is facing mounting protests. The development would turn a protected coastal area into a luxury tourism destination, but critics warn it could irreversibly damage a key wildlife habitat and allege corruption in the approval process. The government says the project will bring investment and jobs. But with tensions rising and clashes reported, the controversy is putting Albania’s development model and political leadership under scrutiny.
At least 13 people have been killed in Albania and hundreds more injured in the most powerful earthquake to hit the country in decades. The 6.4 magnitude quake struck 30 kilometers northwest of the capital Tirana, causing buildings to collapse and sending panicked residents out into the streets. It's the second earthquaketo have hit the country in the past two months.
