On Saturday, June 6, 2026, thousands of Albanian citizens took to the streets in a large-scale protest. They wielded signs saying “Albania is not for sale.” They hoisted up cardboard cutouts of pink flamingoes, one of the many fauna of Sazan Island, an island off the coast of Albania in the Adriatic Sea. The reason? Citizens are protesting the construction of a luxury resort planned to be built on the protected Sazan Island by none other than Trump’s daughter, Ivanka Trump, and her husband, Jared Kushner.

Can the so-called “Flamingo Protests” simply be considered a continuation of the 2025–2026 opposition protests, and a continuation of increased Albanian unrest? Perhaps. But we must look towards the context surrounding them, as well as the key players involved. It seems as if the global stage is finally fed up with corruption, and is collectively turning towards protests to voice their opinions about it.

Sazan island, Albania, uninhabited but full with Soviet style tunnels and anti-nuclear bunkers. Via Shutterstock.

Sources:

Albania protests swell as opposition to Kushner resort persists | Reuters

Sazan is a minefield — both militarily and ecologically

Sazan Island has a long history as a military outpost. During WWII, Germany and Italy used the island as a base for submarines. Then, during the Cold War and the communist era, Albanian dictator Enver Hoxha built 3,600 Soviet-style nuclear bunkers. But Sazan is also rich in ecological and historical sites. The island is home to over 40 avian species, over 300 plant families and also boasts a large snake population.

Sources:

Inside Sazan Island: The Albanian ex-military base that Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner want to turn into luxury resort | The Independent

History and culture – Parku Kombetar Detar 

Sazan Island: A Hidden Gem in Albania 

The natural and historical beauty of Sazan draws visitors in easily. However, it is far from “unknown,” as the Kushners have claimed. In a podcast in 2024, Ivanka Trump claims to have discovered the island, along with Jared Kushner, during a swim whilst traveling on a friend’s boat. They also claim to have uncovered the beauty of the island during a barefoot walk to the top. 

The Kushner family plans to develop Sazan into a seaside resort “brimming with hotels, apartments and villas” in the protected delta Vjosa-Narta. So far, development has included heavy machinery, tree clearing and fence installment. Protesters fear that construction will damage the ecological landscape of Sazan. The island’s coast is a spot for migratory birds to stop at, and the country’s only breeding grounds for pink flamingoes. Hence, protestors have used the flamingo as a symbol at demonstrations.
 
Sources:

It’s one of the world’s rare wild places. A Trump-linked plan has sparked a revolt | SBS News

Kushner Island? Why a planned resort has provoked protests in Albania | Environment News | Al Jazeera 

A massive investment into the Albanian economy

A deal has already been struck between the Albanian government and the Trump-Kushner family, and it was struck long before it was made public. Back in January 2025, Sazan was sold to the Trump-Kushners for $1.6 billion, and a $4.7 billion investment into the Vlora village area was added on top of it. 

Rama has continued to defend the project. He has dismissed concerns of environmental negligence, calling it “misinformation.” The prime minister has said the resort will improve Albania’s tourist economy, and now it seems as if the government is turning to the Trump-Kushners to propel it towards that goal. While Albania’s anti-corruption agency has said it has opened an investigation into the deal, there are still concerns over the government’s lack of transparency.

Sources:

Why a luxury resort plan by Trump’s son-in-law sparked mass protests in Albania

What to know about the growing opposition to an Albanian resort linked to the Trump family | PBS News 

A lack of transparency and escalating protests

The lack of transparency is one of the reasons why Albanian citizens are protesting this measure. Rama has been accused of working with the financial backers to rush through environmental concerns and regulations to have the project built.

It is important to note, however, that the capital of Tirana was already subject to months of political protests earlier this year. Opposition parties and international observers raised doubts on the legitimacy of Rama’s May 2025 electoral victory, with courts immediately opening cases for alleged vote-buying.

Furthermore, from late 2025 to May 2026, Albanians loudly protested against corruption and Rama’s government. This was first sparked against former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, who is facing an ongoing investigation for alleged corruption. The protests continued even after Bailuku was dismissed from her post, and have turned violent on more than one occasion, with police being heavily deployed and protesters throwing Molotov cocktails at the Prime Minister’s office.

Sources:

ALBANIA: ‘Corruption is a serious problem, but no political force commands enough public trust to unite demands’ | CIVICUS LENS

SPAK Expands Investigation Into Former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku | Albanian Daily News

Albania’s Rama wins historic fourth term, opposition says vote stolen | Reuters

2025–2026 Albanian opposition protests | Wikipedia

Essentially, this current protest can be seen as a continuation of previous protests, once again sparked by allegations of corruption. However, this renewed reinvigoration of the Albanian opposition has an international source to thank for its new spotlight.

The Trump connection

The Albanian protests have only started appearing in the headlines, at least internationally, after Ivanka Trump made tone-deaf comments on the matter, implying the island was private property she and her husband, Jared Kushner, were purchasing. In fact, the island is public property of Albania, and part of a national park and wildlife preserve.

This upswell can also be seen as protests against the US in general, which, under Donald Trump, has become increasingly isolationist, slapping tariffs on many foreign goods and services, while also acting as an international bully. Canada was the first hit in Trump’s latest term, and it reacted with similar hostility.

Albania, as a much smaller country in comparison to not only the US but also Canada, seems to be having a similar reaction, with a force directly connected to a much larger country pushing in against many Albanians’ wishes to seize land. This naturally has stirred up the response we are currently seeing.

A look at the Albanian island where a Kushner-Trump resort plan has sparked protests | PBS News

Ivanka Trump’s comments | Shadow of Ezra

2025–2026 United States trade war with Canada and Mexico | Wikipedia

The Albanian government has not announced any plans to halt construction of the project. Kushner’s dollars are still green, and more importantly, Tirana may be calculating that a direct connection to President Trump may be more valuable than domestic political goodwill, a calculation several other smaller countries have also made.

However, protests only began in earnest a few weeks ago. Time, as always, will tell how the situation develops and if the current Albanian government’s grip is strong enough to see this deal through.