U.S. President Donald Trump has taken steps to distance himself from two of his senior political advisers following revelations of their consultancy work for the government of Republika Srpska, the Serb-majority entity within Bosnia and Herzegovina. The advisers, Chris LaCivita and James Blair, both hold significant roles in Trump’s political operations, with LaCivita having co-managed Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign and Blair being a former White House deputy chief of staff.
Reports emerged indicating that LaCivita and Blair traveled to Republika Srpska to provide political assistance ahead of local elections, receiving substantial compensation for their services. In response, Trump clarified that the two are independent consultants who are not directly employed by him except in their advisory capacity. He emphasized that they are allowed to work for other clients but stated he would review their external activities to ensure no conflicts of interest arise.
The involvement of LaCivita and Blair with a foreign government has sparked questions about potential conflicts with their political roles in the United States. LaCivita’s influence was significant during Trump’s 2024 campaign, while Blair has been involved in broader efforts to support Republican candidates in the U.S. midterm elections. Blair is temporarily on leave from his White House role, with plans to return after the elections, according to Trump.
This situation has drawn attention to the broader issue of political advisers engaging in outside consulting work while maintaining close ties to influential U.S. political figures and operations. Trump has indicated that he will take necessary actions should any conflicts of interest be identified in relation to their consultancy work.