Trump-Tied Resort Project Sparks Tear Gas Clashes on Albania’s Protected Coastline

Albanian police fired tear gas at demonstrators this week as anger boiled over against a contentious resort development linked to former U.S. President Donald Trump. The protests erupted along the country’s pristine southern coast, where the luxury project is carving into a protected coastal lagoon that environmentalists say is vital for wildlife and local ecosystems.

Hundreds of activists, locals, and students gathered near the Vjosa River delta, an area known for its rich bird life and unspoiled wetlands. They decried the construction of a sprawling hotel and villa complex—reportedly tied to Trump’s family business network—arguing it violates environmental laws and threatens a UNESCO-designated landscape. Chanting “Save the lagoon!” and waving Albanian flags, the crowd blocked access roads to the site before authorities moved in to disperse them.

Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene as security forces launched canisters of tear gas into the crowd, sending protesters coughing and fleeing into the brush. Several people were detained, though local human rights groups accused police of using excessive force against peaceful demonstrators.

The resort, part of a larger push by foreign investors to develop Albania’s coastline, has drawn particular ire because it sits within the Narta Lagoon—a critical habitat for migratory birds and a buffer against rising seas. Environmental groups, including the Albanian Ornithological Society, have filed a flurry of legal challenges, claiming the project’s permits were fast-tracked without proper environmental impact assessments.

Meanwhile, the Albanian government defends the development as a boost for tourism and jobs in a struggling region. But for many protesters, the sight of bulldozers tearing into the reeds is a reminder that economic progress should not come at the cost of nature. As clouds of tear gas drifted over the lagoon, the clash underscored a deepening rift between conservationists and the allure of foreign cash.