Former President Donald Trump has distanced himself from two of his senior political advisers following revelations about their consultancy work for the government of Republika Srpska, the predominantly Serb entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Trump clarified that Chris LaCivita, who played a key role in his 2024 presidential campaign, and James Blair, a former deputy chief of staff at the White House, are independent consultants who do not directly work for him outside of their advisory capacities.
While Trump stated that both LaCivita and Blair are allowed to take on other clients, he expressed his intent to review their external engagements to ensure there are no conflicts of interest. This stance comes in response to reports that the two advisers traveled to Republika Srpska before local elections, providing political consulting services for which they were reportedly well-compensated.
LaCivita and Blair have maintained a close relationship with Trump over several years, contributing significantly to his political operations and Republican candidate support efforts ahead of the U.S. midterm elections. Questions have emerged regarding the potential conflict of interest posed by their work with a foreign government, particularly given their influential roles in U.S. politics.
Blair, who is currently on leave from his White House role, has been actively involved in Republican election campaigns. Trump has previously indicated that Blair would return to his White House duties following the midterm elections. The incident has sparked a broader debate about the appropriateness of political advisers engaging in external consultancy while remaining closely tied to influential political figures and government positions.