Thousands in Albania Protest Trump-Linked Resort, Rapper Kanye West

Thousands of Albanians continue to protest in Tirana, demanding the Prime Minister's resignation and opposing a tourism project linked to the Trump family. This marks the 42nd consecutive night of demonstrations, which have also targeted controversial U.S. rapper Kanye West, whose antisemitic rhetoric has led to performance bans in some European capitals.

Protesters, waving Albanian flags, chanted slogans against Prime Minister Edi Rama and the rapper, who now goes by "Ye." Rama had met with West prior to his concert, sharing a video of the event online and giving it a five-star rating. The scale of nightly protests in the capital is difficult to ascertain precisely, but journalists on the ground report thousands participating daily.

The core of the opposition lies in the planned luxury hotel development, valued at an estimated $4.6 billion and associated with former U.S. President Donald Trump's family. Protesters object to its construction in the environmentally protected Zvernec area. The project has become a focal point for frustrations over alleged corruption, with demonstrators calling for Rama's resignation due to a perceived lack of transparency.

The movement has adopted the nickname "Flamingo Revolution." This stems from the pink flamingos that migrate to the nature reserve where the resort is slated for development. Many protesters carry plastic flamingos during their demonstrations, using the symbol to highlight their environmental concerns.