Former U.S. President Donald Trump has distanced himself from two of his senior political advisers following revelations of their work as paid consultants for the government of Republika Srpska, a Serb-majority entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Trump clarified that Chris LaCivita and James Blair, who have been closely associated with his political operations, function as independent consultants and only work for him in that capacity.
LaCivita, a key figure in Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, and Blair, a former White House deputy chief of staff, reportedly provided political assistance to Republika Srpska ahead of recent elections, receiving substantial compensation for their services. Trump stated that while it is permissible for the advisers to engage with other clients, he plans to examine their outside activities to ensure there are no conflicts of interest with their roles in the United States.
The involvement of LaCivita and Blair in foreign consulting has raised questions about the potential conflict between their work for Republika Srpska and their political commitments in the U.S. LaCivita has been instrumental in Trump’s 2024 campaign efforts, and Blair, currently on leave from the White House, is involved in supporting Republican candidates for the upcoming midterm elections. Trump has indicated that Blair is expected to return to the White House post-elections.
This situation highlights the complexities of political advisers maintaining consulting roles with foreign entities while remaining active in U.S. political circles. The scrutiny over LaCivita and Blair’s activities underscores ongoing concerns about the transparency and potential conflicts of interest among political figures with international engagements.