In this episode we explore how the Serbian Parliament approved new legislation to clear the way for a luxury hotel and apartment complex branded with the Trump name, built on the site of the former General Staff complex in Belgrade — a modernist landmark devastated by NATO bombing in 1999. We’ll unpack the key political players — President Aleksandar Vucic and his ruling Serbian Progressive Party — and how the law strips the site of cultural-heritage protections and utilises an extraordinary constitutional mechanism to fast-track the project.
We examine the role of Jared Kushner’s investment firm, the 99-year lease deal, and how Serbia’s ambition to attract foreign capital and curry favour with the U.S. intersects with concerns about rule of law, corruption and democratic backsliding. We’ll also consider the protests — from students, preservationists and opposition politicians — who call this move a symbol clash: turning a site of war and resistance into a luxury complex.
For listeners interested in how global development, heritage protection and geopolitics collide, this episode delivers analysis and context. Listen till the end for expert insights on what this means for Serbia’s EU ambitions, U.S.–Serbia relations and the future of politically-branded real estate deals.

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