PROTESTS Erupt Over Ivanka, Kushner PRIVATE Albanian Island
Albanians are protesting and turning violent over Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner's deal to take over a Mediterranean island, bad news for the Trump family's image abroad and for locals who say a public asset was handed away.
- Ivanka and Kushner are building a luxury resort on a 1,400-hectare Albanian island they say they "discovered" while swimming off a friend's yacht.
- The island's legal status was conveniently changed right after Trump's inauguration, letting them buy what locals call a public asset.
- Albanians are furious — thousands are in the streets, politicians' homes have been firebombed, and a protester was filmed being dragged by private guards while police watched.
- The yacht belonged to Nat Rothschild, and the prime minister met them onboard before the deal came together.
- Separately, Peter Thiel — a major backer of JD Vance — is leaving the US for Argentina, fueling talk that insiders are heading for the exits.
Outlook: Albania's government insists the project will go ahead, so protests are likely to keep growing.