Violent Clashes Erupt in Tirana Over Trump-Linked Coastal Development

Police in Tirana confronted demonstrators Tuesday as protests against a controversial luxury development linked to the Trump family turned violent, marking 100 days of unrest. As Parliament resumed after its summer recess, crowds attempted to breach a police cordon in the city center, pelting officers in riot gear with eggs and tomatoes.

The demonstrations, widely known as the “flamingo revolution” due to signage featuring the pink bird threatened by the construction, have escalated since late May. Protesters are opposing a massive luxury hotel planned for a coastal nature reserve, a venture connected to Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner.

Tensions rose further when vehicles transporting lawmakers were targeted by the crowd with plastic water bottles before police intervened to ensure their safe passage to the parliament building. While officials have not clarified Kushner’s specific role in the project, Ivanka Trump has publicly praised the initiative as “incredible.”

Scientists and activists warn that preliminary construction work has already inflicted irreversible harm on Albania’s coastline, destroying nesting habitats for loggerhead turtles and various bird species. Critics also argue the development would restrict public access to the coast.

What began as a focused campaign against the hotel has evolved into a broader challenge against Prime Minister Edi Rama and his long-dominant Socialist Party. Rama strongly backs the investment, contending it is vital for modernizing a nation that endured decades of communist isolation. During Tuesday’s clashes, protesters chanted “Arrest Rama!” as police escorted lawmakers. Several individuals were detained, though it was unclear if formal arrests had been made.