{
  "id": 14798387,
  "title": "The State Department Called Him “Corrupt.” Trump Officials Feted Him in Dallas.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/the-state-department-called-him-corrupt-trump-officials-feted-him-in",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-15T21:50:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Mother Jones",
    "slug": "mother-jones",
    "url": "https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/10/albania-sali-berisha-state-department-trump-gop-midterm-convention/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "At the Republican Party’s midterm convention in Dallas, GOP leaders warned that a Democratic win in November would result in a Marxist takeover of the United States. President Donald Trump even made over 60 references to the \"red menace\" during his speech at the event. However, behind the scenes, top Republicans were celebrating an ex-communist leader.\n\nSali Berisha, the octogenarian leader of Albania’s opposition party, was photographed with several high-ranking US officials, including Attorney General Todd Blanche, Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward, and Republican National Committee chair Joe Gruters. Berisha was also seen with Fatmir Mediu, a former Albanian defense minister with close ties to Republicans, including Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.\n\nThese interactions were significant because the US State Department had previously designated Berisha a \"persona non grata\" in 2021 due to his involvement in corruption. Albania had even charged him with criminal offenses related to these allegations. However, the Trump administration had reversed its stance and granted Berisha a visa waiver, allowing him to attend the convention.\n\nBerisha claimed that his meetings with the Republican officials were crucial discussions exposing corruption in Albania, particularly linking Prime Minister Edi Rama to drug smuggling. Rama denied these allegations. Berisha stated that his interactions with Blanche, Woodward, and others were \"important meetings for Albania-US relations.\" However, the purpose and extent of Berisha’s visit remain unclear, as neither the Justice Department nor the Republican National Committee provided further details.\n\nThe Republican convention was essentially a fundraiser, with attendees paying thousands of dollars for the privilege of attending. Berisha's attendance was arranged by the International Democracy Union, an organization of right-leaning political parties. While Berisha himself claimed he was accompanied by other delegates, it is unclear if any non-Albanian officials were part of the group. The International Democracy Union did not respond to inquiries regarding the composition of the delegation.\n\nBerisha's photographs with Republican officials suggest he had a high level of access, raising questions about how he gained this access. Critics, including Albanian Americans, have questioned whether anyone, including former Trump campaign operatives Chris LaCivita, Tony Fabrizio, and Paul Manafort, helped Berisha gain access to the officials. LaCivita, who worked on Berisha's behalf in Albania, denied any involvement in Berisha's presence at the US event.",
  "summary": "During the Republican Party’s “midterm convention” last month, GOP leaders argued that a Democratic victory in November would cause a Marxist takeover of America. “It’s going to be a communist country if they win,” President Donald Trump said from the stage—one of more than 60 reported references to the red menace made by speakers at […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}