Serbia’s president Aleksandar Vučić allegedly played a direct role in efforts to remove legal protections from a historic building in Belgrade to facilitate construction of a Trump-branded hotel and residential tower, according to an investigation drawing on interviews and leaked documents. The project involved representatives from Jared Kushner’s real estate company and members of Trump’s family. Senior Serbian officials have been indicted on charges of abuse of public office in connection with the scheme, which prosecutors describe as the first criminal case resulting from what critics characterize as a “pay to play” arrangement involving the Trump family’s business interests.
In early 2024, Vučić summoned conservation officials to his presidential offices and allegedly pressured them to rescind the protected status of the General Staff building, a historic structure in central Belgrade. According to sources familiar with the meeting, the president used intimidating language and made clear that compliance or resignation were the only acceptable outcomes. The building’s protected status had been personally reaffirmed by Vučić in 2016. Shortly after this alleged intervention, a leaked agreement revealed that Serbian authorities had granted Kushner’s company a 99-year free lease on the site.
When the conservation officials refused to initiate the procedure to remove the building’s protected status in subsequent meetings, citing lack of legal grounds, they were told to resign and both stepped down from their positions. A contract signed on 13 May 2024 committed Serbian authorities to removing the site’s “cultural heritage designation” to the satisfaction of Kushner’s company. After abuse of power charges were brought, Kushner’s company announced the project would not proceed “at this time.”
Vučić responded to the indictments by threatening reprisals against prosecutors, calling them “corrupt gangs” and stating he would personally ensure accountability for those responsible for losing the investment. The case has become a significant issue ahead of a scheduled election, with a hearing where witness testimony might reveal details of Vučić’s involvement unlikely to occur until after the vote. Representatives of the Trump and Kushner organizations denied involvement in removing the building’s protections and disputed characterization of the project as part of a pay-to-play scheme.
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