Serbian Parliament Passes Law to Build Luxury Trump‑Branded Hotel on Former NATO Bombing Site

Belgrade – In a highly contentious vote, Serbia’s parliament approved a special law that clears the way for a $500 million Trump‑branded hotel and residential complex to be erected on the ruins of the former General Staff military headquarters, a site still scarred by NATO airstrikes during the 1999 Kosovo war.The project, championed by Jared Kushner – son‑in‑law of former U.S. President Donald Trump – had been stalled after several Serbian officials who supported it were placed under a fraud investigation. Nevertheless, lawmakers from the ruling Serbian Progressive Party invoked an extraordinary constitutional provision that allows “urgent” legislation to bypass normal procedural hurdles, pushing the bill through with a 130‑40 vote.The targeted location is a mid‑20th‑century modernist complex that was partially destroyed in the 1999 bombing campaign and has since become an informal memorial to the victims of that conflict. Critics argue that replacing the historic ruins with a luxury hotel is a desecration of national memory and a surrender to foreign commercial interests.Opposition MPs, led by center‑left representative Marinika Tepić, denounced the decision as “selling our history to please Donald Trump,” adding, “In a place where bombs once fell, you now plan to pour champagne.” Street protests erupted in Belgrade following the vote, reflecting deep public unease.President Aleksandar Vučić defended the development, claiming it will strengthen Serbia’s ties with Washington and boost the country’s tourism sector. He dismissed the fraud probe as politically motivated and urged critics to stop “hindering better relations with the United States.”According to the developers, the mixed‑use project will include a high‑rise hotel, luxury apartments, office space and retail outlets. Kushner’s firm has also pledged to construct a memorial within the complex to honor all victims of the 1999 NATO bombing.The approval raises questions about the balance between economic ambition, foreign influence, and the preservation of cultural heritage in Serbia. As demolition of the remaining structures is slated to begin later this year, the controversy is likely to persist, shaping both domestic politics and Serbia’s relationship with the United States.