Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić has been linked to a controversial plan to transfer a culturally protected site in Belgrade for the development of a Trump-branded hotel and residential tower, according to allegations that have sparked a significant legal and political upheaval in the country. The project, which involved the General Staff building—a historic structure emblematic of Serbian heritage and resistance—has resulted in criminal charges against senior officials within Vučić’s administration, including his culture minister, on accusations of abuse of public office.
The controversy centers around efforts to revoke the protected status of the General Staff building, which dates back to its significance during the Yugoslav era and the NATO bombing campaign in 1999. In 2016, Vučić had reaffirmed the building’s protected status, but a meeting in February 2024 at the presidential residence revealed a shift in position. Authorities summoned Dubravka Đukanović, the then-director of Serbia’s cultural monuments protection institute, advising her to remove the building’s protected designation to facilitate a deal with a foreign investor subsequently identified as Jared Kushner’s real estate enterprise. Kushner, married to Ivanka Trump and a former senior White House adviser, planned to develop a $500 million Trump-branded property on the site with the backing of the Serbian government.
Leaked documents show that the Serbian government granted Kushner’s company a 99-year lease at no cost, with contractual assurances to remove the site’s cultural heritage status “to the satisfaction” of Kushner’s firm. Đukanović and her deputy Olivera Vučković resisted these directives, citing legal and ethical grounds, and ultimately resigned after being pressured by Finance Minister Siniša Mali, Vučić’s close ally. Following their departure, the protected status of the General Staff building was officially revoked in late 2024.
Legal proceedings have since been initiated. Prosecutors charged the culture minister and other officials with abuse of office related to the handling of the site’s status. Authorities also arrested Goran Vasić, appointed head of the heritage institute following Đukanović’s resignation, on allegations of fabricating expert opinions to justify the deregulation. While Vučić has not been formally charged, prosecutors acknowledge evidence implicating his direct involvement, including a key meeting he convened in February 2024. Vučić and Mali deny any wrongdoing, with the president accusing prosecutors of conducting a politically motivated “coup” against his government.
The plan encountered domestic opposition amid widespread protests triggered by unrelated incidents, including a deadly collapse at a railway station, which intensified scrutiny of government corruption. Activists and opponents criticized the project as emblematic of the regime’s disregard for public interest, while Vučić framed his political adversaries’ reactions as manipulations of tragic events.
Representatives of the Trump Organization and Jared Kushner have rejected allegations of improper influence or “pay to play” dealings related to the Belgrade project. Kushner’s spokesperson emphasized that the proposals aimed to transform a site marked by conflict into a symbol of economic opportunity, asserting Kushner’s lack of involvement in the government’s internal decisions regarding heritage status. The Trump Organization similarly denied participation in negotiations over the property or knowledge of the accusations.
Despite the legal troubles and the project’s suspension announced in December 2025 after the charges surfaced, Serbia continues to maintain economic ties with the Trump family. Since Donald Trump’s return to the U.S. presidency, the Trump brand has seen expanded global ventures, with projects in multiple countries accompanied by allegations of reciprocal benefits linked to Trump’s political power—claims the parties involved describe as unfounded or mischaracterized.
Vučić, who is seeking to remain politically influential with an upcoming election scheduled for 25 October, recently stepped down as president but is expected to continue his political leadership if elected prime minister. The unfolding case marks a rare instance of high-level political figures in Serbia facing legal action for abuse of office, casting a spotlight on the intersection of business interests, political influence, and cultural heritage preservation in the country.