ProPublica, a nonprofit newsroom dedicated to investigating abuses of power, reported on a recent visit to North Macedonia by Devin Nunes, the CEO of Trump Media and former California congressman. Earlier this summer, Nunes, alongside other North American executives, landed just outside Skopje, North Macedonia’s capital. The delegation was greeted by a high-ranking Macedonian government official and escorted by police to meet the newly elected Prime Minister, Hristijan Mickoski.
During a recent earnings call, Chris Pavlovski, the CEO of Rumble and one of the executives on the trip, disclosed that discussions centered around a cloud technology services deal with the Macedonian government. This meeting marks the first known interaction between Trump’s media company and a foreign government, signaling potential future collaborations.
Prime Minister Mickoski, leader of the conservative nationalist party, highlighted the delegation’s close ties to former U.S. President Donald Trump, calling Nunes and another attendee some of Trump’s closest associates. Ethics experts have raised concerns about Trump’s significant stake in Trump Media, suggesting that political agendas of advertisers, vendors, or investors could influence business relationships for favorable treatment from a potential future Trump administration.
A Trump Media spokesperson did not provide detailed answers regarding the company’s role or the specifics of any potential agreement. However, they made a lighthearted comment implying an ambitious—but obviously fictional—plan involving Nunes and Pavlovski.
Trump Media’s operations are closely linked to Rumble, which provides the company with cloud services and ad sale services. Rumble’s CEO, Pavlovski, who has strong ties to North Macedonia, mentioned in a quarterly investor call that the possibilities of Rumble’s direct involvement in North Macedonia’s digital transformation were discussed. He likened the opportunity to a notable tech services deal between El Salvador and Google.
Images from the North Macedonia trip depict Nunes, Pavlovski, and executive Howard Lutnick being greeted with significant local pageantry. The Macedonian government shared images of Nunes meeting with both the prime minister and the president.
North Macedonia, heavily reliant on U.S. support for economic aid and diplomatic backing, looks to strengthen ties with influential American figures. Recently elected Prime Minister Mickoski is seen as aligning with Trump’s political outlook, potentially leveraging this relationship to navigate European demands and secure greater autonomy.
Historically, members of Mickoski’s VMRO-DPMNE party have relied on support from U.S. Republicans, which included lobbying efforts that drew the attention of U.S. lawmakers to alleged political meddling by the American embassy in Skopje.
The article also mentions other notable Trump associates engaging in business ventures in the Balkans. Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, is pursuing real estate developments in Albania and Serbia, funded by Middle Eastern governments. Richard Grenell, another former Trump official, recently visited North Macedonia for meetings, including discussions about potential U.S. investments in a major hydropower project.
Though no evidence suggests that Grenell’s visit was connected to the Trump Media delegation’s trip, it underscores a broader pattern of former Trump associates forging international business ties in post-administration roles.
