Serbia’s Vučić in Miami: defiant on EU criticism, draws parallels with Trump

On a visit to the United States, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić likened the ongoing student protests in Serbia to the U.S. Democratic Party’s election campaign against Donald Trump. Speaking live to Serbian media from Miami, he addressed demonstrations in Belgrade and Novi Sad, stating, “Today’s rallies are a sad display of a bygone era, but accountability is coming. The campaign against Trump mirrors the one against me.”

Vučić, in the U.S. to attend a Republican event, outlined his agenda, which includes discussions with American officials on trade, taxes, and customs duties. “We’re not expecting immediate breakthroughs, but we aim for progress in the coming months, as we’ve seen with sanctions relief for NIS [Serbia’s oil company] and strategic energy and defence agreements,” he said. Reports indicate he will meet with prominent Republican figure Rudy Giuliani.

Drawing parallels with U.S. politics, Vučić claimed the media campaign against Trump employs the same tactics, narrative, and essence as the one targeting him, though he acknowledged his own stature is “smaller” compared to the American president. Shifting to domestic issues, he dismissed accusations of ruining Serbia’s economy and education system, asserting, “The time is nearing when the narrative will shift decisively,” according to the Serbian daily Danas.

Commenting on competing rallies, Vučić claimed that a pro-government gathering in Belgrade’s Pionerski Park dwarfed the “technical” anti-regime protests across multiple cities.

Independent reports, however, suggest that anti-government protests in Belgrade and other cities drew significant crowds, challenging Vučić’s characterization of their scale and impact.

Addressing speculation about his potential attendance at Moscow’s Victory Day parade on 9 May, he accused the European Union of fixating on his actions. “In Brussels, the only question for the past ten days is how to punish Vučić and Serbia. They ignore global crises like India-Pakistan tensions or energy shortages—my presence in Moscow is their sole obsession,” he remarked.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, speaking in Belgrade on 30 April, cautioned that Vučić’s participation in the Moscow parade could strain Serbia’s EU integration. “The decision rests with President Vučić, but if he attends, many EU institutions and member states will take note, complicating my efforts to keep Serbia on its EU path,” Kos stated.

Unfazed, Vučić declared he would exit politics on his own terms, not under external pressure. He added, “On 8 May I plan to present a high distinction to Russian Patriarch Kirill, and I may hold a brief bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping.”

Vučić’s 1 May remarks in Miami underscore his defiance amid domestic unrest and international scrutiny, and his positioning as a leader undeterred by criticism while navigating Serbia’s complex geopolitical balancing act.