Trump’s son-in-law withdraws from hotel project amid public backlash

(MENAFN) Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, has pulled out of a planned luxury hotel and mixed-use development in Belgrade, Serbia, amid public backlash, media reports indicate. The project involved redeveloping a former Yugoslav army headquarters damaged during NATO’s 1999 bombing campaign.

The decision comes after Serbia’s public prosecutor filed an indictment against senior officials, including Culture Minister Nikola Selakovic, for allegedly abusing power and forging documents to remove the site’s cultural-protection status. Selakovic has denied any wrongdoing. There is no indication that Kushner or his company, Affinity Global Development, are implicated.

Affinity Partners said it was stepping away to avoid deepening divisions and out of respect for Serbia and its capital. The redevelopment plan, which included a hotel, apartments, offices, and shops, had faced sustained opposition from civil society and political groups.

President Aleksandar Vucic criticized the withdrawal, lamenting the loss of “an exceptional investment,” and pledged to hold responsible parties accountable. Human Rights Watch has previously noted that around 500 civilians were killed during the NATO campaign that heavily damaged the General Staff complex.

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