Former President Donald Trump has sought to distance himself from two senior political advisers after revelations that they worked for the government of Republika Srpska, a Serb-majority entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Chris LaCivita, who co-managed Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, and James Blair, a former White House deputy chief of staff, reportedly served as paid consultants for Republika Srpska, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
Trump clarified that LaCivita and Blair operate as independent consultants and are not directly employed by him beyond their campaign-related roles. While acknowledging their right to engage with other clients, Trump stated that he would scrutinize their external activities and take necessary action if any conflict with their political responsibilities in the United States is found.
The two advisers reportedly visited Republika Srpska ahead of local elections and provided political guidance, for which they were compensated significantly. Both have maintained strong political connections with Trump over the years and are also involved in supporting Republican candidates in the upcoming US midterm elections.
LaCivita played a key role in Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, while Blair, currently on leave from his White House position, has been assisting Republican election efforts. Trump has previously mentioned that Blair would rejoin the White House team following the midterm elections.
This situation has sparked questions about the foreign consulting work of political advisers who continue to work closely with Trump’s political team while having ties to government roles. The controversy underscores the complexity of balancing international consulting engagements with domestic political commitments.