Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner’s luxury island plan is turning into a public headache.
The couple is facing growing backlash over a proposed $1.4 billion resort project on Sazan, an uninhabited island off the coast of Albania. The island was once a Cold War military base, and it still has bunkers and military structures on site. Now, it has become the center of a fight over wealth, tourism, wildlife, and who gets to control protected coastal areas.
Ivanka recently talked about the project during an appearance on David Senra’s ‘Founders’ podcast. Her comments did not exactly quiet the criticism.
Ivanka Said They Found The Island By Chance
Ivanka said she and Kushner first came across Sazan during a boating trip with friends.
“We were on a friend’s boat, and we stopped for a swim, effectively, that’s how we found it,” she said. “We swam to the island. We went on a hike, barefoot all the way up to the top, and we were just captivated.”
She described the Mediterranean project as “massive in scale” and said she was working on it with her husband. “You know, it’s not even a business for me, despite the scale of it,” Ivanka said. That line drew sharp reactions from critics, especially as many Americans continue dealing with high living costs. Some called the tone out of touch.
Protesters Say Wildlife Is At Risk
The Albanian government gave preliminary approval in late 2024 to Kushner-linked plans for a luxury complex on Sazan. The proposal has been described as an “eco-resort community,” with hotel rooms, private villas, and high-end amenities.
Environmental groups are not buying the soft language.
Protesters argue that the project threatens sensitive wildlife areas, including habitats used by protected migratory birds. Some demonstrators have carried cardboard cutouts of pink flamingos at rallies. Others held banners reading, “Albania is not for sale.”
Reports have also described heavy machinery entering protected areas, opening access routes, clearing land, and installing fencing. Local critics say long-protected habitats are being damaged for a project designed for the wealthy.
One critic fumed, “We as a people need to stop allowing for this kind of insane wealth. The mega-rich are destroying everything. This needs to end.” Another added, “A nature preserve is just an unpaved opportunity for those people.”
Albania’s Prime Minister Is Not Backing Down
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has defended the project, arguing that it could help turn Albania into a major tourism destination. “Albania should not be a country that fears an extraordinary project like this one,” Rama said, pointing to a larger investment figure of 4 billion euros, or roughly $4.6 billion.
He then made his position even clearer. “There is no chance for this investment to stop as long as I am here,” Rama said.
That has not stopped the pressure. Protesters have gathered in Tirana and along the southern coastline, where workers reportedly put up fencing near beach areas. An Albanian special prosecutor’s office has also opened an investigation related to the project, according to reports.
The backlash has now turned Ivanka and Kushner’s private island dream into a very public fight.
