Speaking to members of the Albanian-American community, Berisha reflected on what he described as a difficult period in his political career and thanked Albanians in the United States for supporting him.

“We are Albanians,” Berisha said, invoking what he described as “resistance to defend dignity, family, the nation and freedom.”

Berisha said his U.S. entry ban, imposed four years ago, was part of what he called an “anti-freedom and anti-national agenda.” He said he had nevertheless continued his political fight, despite being largely withdrawn from political life at the time.

Referring to Donald Trump’s election as U.S. president in November 2024, Berisha said the “free world began to rise again” and that the political shift had also reached Albania.

“Those who signed the ban against me are now persona non grata in their own country,” Berisha said. “Those who prepared the fabrications against me in Albania are now behind bars, while I am standing with both feet on the soil they thought they could keep me from forever.”

Berisha also thanked the Trump administration and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio for what he described as the decision that enabled his return to the United States.

Former Prime Minister Berisha was designated by the U.S. State Department in 2021 as ineligible to enter the United States over allegations of involvement in significant corruption.

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He emphasizes that the future of Albania will be a party freed from the remnants of the past, communism.

At the press conference, Basha said that, unfortunately while we are doing our duty, Sali Berisha with a handful of family members and a group of bandits convicted of trafficking break into the offices.

“This is a tragedy for the Democrats, but I want to assure them that I will not let the despair of one man hold our political action back, nor prolong the life of another one whom the same fate awaits as this one. I will not allow someone designated “non grata” by the US to do everything to extend the political life of someone else who is waiting to be designated “non grata”. “He deserves to be designated non grata “, despite the fact that today he is sitting in the chair of the country’s prime minister”, he stressed.

Basha added that we will continue to work without responding to provocations, without provoking but by uniting all Albanians in this battle.
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