Donald Trump's son-in-law abandons plan to build hotel in Belgrade on site of 1999 NATO bombing

Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law, has abandoned plans to build a Trump-branded hotel and residential complex on a sensitive site in central Belgrade after encountering widespread resistance.

Jared Kushner tried to build the hotel on a site bombed by NATO PHOTO: X

Kushner and his associates, backed by the Serbian government, wanted to redevelop the former Yugoslav Army's General Staff building, which was bombed by NATO in 1999 and remains a powerful national symbol for many Serbs.

The $500 million plans have sparked street protests, strong opposition in parliament and threats from students and activists to occupy the site if demolition begins, TVP World writes.

On Monday, a special prosecutor indicted Serbia's culture minister, Nikola Selaković, and others for their role in removing the former army headquarters' protected status as a site of cultural importance.

Kushner's private equity firm Affinity Partners — which signed a 99-year lease for the site last year — later announced its withdrawal from the project.

“As meaningful projects should unite rather than divide, and out of respect for the Serbian people and the city of Belgrade, we withdraw our request and withdraw at this time”said a spokesman, quoted by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

Strong opposition

Opposition to the project transcended Serbia's political divide. Critics on the left called the plan a divestment of public land, while nationalists objected to the sale of what they see as holy land to a family with ties to the US, NATO's main power.

Opponents appealed to Serbia's Constitutional Court, while activists monitored the site and promised street action.

The dispute intensified after the administration of President Aleksandar Vučić moved to de-list the bombed complex as a heritage site in order to transfer it to Kushner's company.

Efforts by the ruling party to push for swift legislation to remove protected status have led the opposition to accuse it of unconstitutional and corrupt behavior.

“You call it investment, we call it high treason”opposition MP Marinika Tepić said in parliament.

Announcing the charges against Selaković and other officials on Monday, the organized crime prosecutor said they were accused of abuse of office and falsifying an official document in connection with the change in the status of the estate.

Selaković, a close ally of Vučić, has denied wrongdoing.

Kushner's return

A top adviser to Trump in his first term, Kushner has returned to public life in recent months while running Affinity, a $4.8 billion private equity firm funded largely by Middle Eastern governments, the WSJ reported.

Although he once said he would not return to government, he volunteered to help lead US negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine war, after a similar role in Gaza.

His ties to Trump have led to claims that the proposed investment in Belgrade and the decision to fast-track the enabling laws were politically motivated.

Vučić said the deal had nothing to do with politics and was aimed at redeveloping a run-down area in the city centre. Affinity, in a statement to the WSJ, said it had no connection to the alleged forgery described by prosecutors.

The now-abandoned project, a joint venture with UAE developer Eagle Hills and the Trump Organization brand, also drew criticism from US lawmakers, NATO's former Balkan war commander and the European Parliament, as well as architects and preservationists, the Journal reported.

Built in 1964 and partially destroyed by NATO air raids in 1999, the former modernist army headquarters remains a powerful national symbol for many Serbian residents.