Edi Rama praises Trump in Bloomberg interview, says Kushner resort project not political favor

In a wide-ranging interview with Bloomberg, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama praised U.S. President Donald Trump, discussed his ties to Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and pushed back against criticism of a luxury resort project approved by his government earlier this year.

Why this is important: The interview highlights how Trump-era political and business networks are playing a visible role in Albania’s political scene ahead of the May 11 parliamentary elections — with figures like Kushner, Chris LaCivita, and Ric Grenell all mentioned in connection with local developments.

Context: Speaking from the Socialist Party headquarters in Tirana, Rama told Bloomberg that Trump’s presidency had a paradoxical but beneficial effect on Europe. “When Trump says that God saved him to Make America Great Again, he tells only half the story,” Rama said. “The other half is that He saved Trump also to make Europe wake up and get its act together.”

Rama described the European Union as having become “too self-referential” and “selfish,” suggesting that global instability and Trump’s pressure on allies have forced the EU to rethink its posture and role in the world. Despite being a Socialist, Rama has repeatedly voiced unorthodox admiration for Trump, whom he calls “good for everyone.”

The interview also addressed Rama’s ongoing challenge from opposition leader Sali Berisha, who has been sanctioned by the U.S. for alleged corruption and is running under a center-right coalition. Berisha has hired Trump 2024 co-manager Chris LaCivita as a campaign advisor. In February, LaCivita posted a photo of Rama with Alexander Soros, the son of George Soros, calling them “puppet and puppet master.”

Kushner’s resort project: Rama confirmed that his government had given preliminary approval for a $1.4 billion resort project on Sazan Island, a former military base on Albania’s southern coast, to a group led by Jared Kushner. He denied the move was politically motivated, pointing out that Kushner first visited the site in 2021 — when Trump was out of office — together with Ivanka Trump and Ric Grenell.

“At the time, it was not something that would give us any political points in Washington,” Rama told Bloomberg. “There were others in power and it was not at all obvious Trump could win.”

He stressed that the deal was still in progress and had not been finalized. “It’s not that we gave the island and this is it — it’s a partnership,” Rama said. “They have our full support, but we have to agree.”

Rama also described his relationship with Kushner as personal: “I’m privileged to talk to Kushner and I would be very happy to call him a friend. I don’t know if he calls me a friend, but I call him friend.”

What else: The Bloomberg article notes that Trump’s influence is visible across the Balkans, not just in Albania. In Serbia, President Aleksandar Vučić hosted Donald Trump Jr. in March. Trump allies have also weighed in on politics in Romania and elsewhere in the region, signaling a broader strategy of engagement ahead of the 2024 U.S. elections.

The interview marks one of Rama’s most direct efforts to frame his international relationships as strategic, and to respond to mounting criticism over high-profile deals like the Sazan project as the country enters a contentious campaign season.