Grenell accuses Kosovo president of manipulating Trump’s words; experts urge caution
A claim by Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani that U.S. President Donald Trump recently intervened to prevent a Serbian attack on Kosovo has sparked debate at home, drawing support from some security analysts but sharp criticism from Trump’s former envoy.
Speaking last week during a discussion at Johns Hopkins University in Washington, Osmani said she had credible information indicating that Trump had played a key role in stopping what she described as Serbian efforts to escalate the situation in Kosovo. She praised the former U.S. president for what she called an “extraordinary contribution.”
While Osmani’s comments echoed recent remarks by Trump, who has stated multiple times that he prevented conflict between Serbia and Kosovo—without offering specifics—her interpretation drew a rebuke from Richard Grenell, Trump’s former envoy for special missions.
Grenell accused Osmani of “manipulating President Trump’s words,” in a post on social media platform X, prompting concern among foreign policy analysts who warned against politicizing matters of national security.
Political analyst Magbule Shkodra described Grenell’s reaction as troubling and called on President Osmani to show greater caution in her public statements.
“Her remarks touch on national security and must be handled with care,” Shkodra told KosovaPress. “Grenell’s response was unusually direct, and such public disputes between senior officials risk damaging Kosovo’s credibility.”
Osmani’s office has not responded to media inquiries but announced that a press conference will be held after her return from the United States.
Security affairs expert Avni Islami defended the president, saying Trump’s repeated statements lend credibility to Osmani’s claims.
“I’m inclined to trust the President of the United States. He has said several times that he prevented a possible Serbian attack. Osmani merely reaffirmed that,” Islami said. He added that Serbia has a strategic plan to intervene in Kosovo and is “waiting for the right moment,” a claim he says was previously acknowledged by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.
However, Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti said he had no information confirming Trump’s claim, while Interior Minister Xhelal Sveçla declined to comment.
On July 12, Vučić dismissed the claims entirely, saying Serbia had no plans to mobilize forces.
“We have not mobilized any soldiers, nor deployed any machinery, nor are we thinking about it. We want to work and build,” he said.
The incident has highlighted deep sensitivities in Kosovo around foreign policy messaging and the country’s security posture, with analysts warning that unverified statements—especially those invoking major international figures—can have serious diplomatic repercussions.