Trump Distances Himself from Top Advisers Over Balkans Consulting Work

In early October 2026, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that he would fire political aides James Blair and Chris LaCivita if their outside work created a conflict of interest. The post came after a report revealed the two consultants had traveled to the Balkans the previous week to advise the government of Republika Srpska—the Serb-dominated entity within Bosnia and Herzegovina—on voting issues related to elections held there.

New York Times

Republika Srpska was established as a self-governing entity by the 1995 Dayton Accords that ended the Bosnian war. The entity’s government retained a Washington-based law firm to obtain counsel on electoral matters ahead of the Sunday elections. At the same time, Trump’s operation was finalising its strategy for the U.S. midterm elections, scheduled for November 3.

New York Times

• James Blair – former White House deputy chief of staff; now leads Trump’s MAGA Inc. super-PAC and heads midterm strategy meetings.

Washington Examiner

• Chris LaCivita – 2024 campaign co-chairman; senior adviser at MAGA Inc.

CNN

• Donald Trump – President of the United States; author of the Truth Social post.

CNN

• Republika Srpska government – client of the Washington law firm that paid the consultants.

New York Times

• Both Blair and LaCivita were paid hundreds of thousands of dollars each through the law firm retained by Republika Srpska’s government (attributed to the report).

New York Times

The White House, when queried, directed reporters back to Trump’s social-media statement and offered no additional comment. Neither the law firm nor the Republika Srpska government responded to requests for comment on the consulting arrangement.

New York Times

• The report identified the payment amounts and the law-firm conduit, but the law firm and Republika Srpska officials declined to comment, leaving the exact scope of the consulting work unverified.

New York Times

• “Chris LaCivita and James Blair are outside consultants,” — President Trump

Washington Examiner

• “I do not have any idea who else they work for but will, on reflection, ask them and, if there’s a conflict, I will terminate them, immediately!” — Trump. The New York

Washington Examiner

• “They are allowed to do work for others, just like all consultants in Washington, D.C. I do not have any idea who else they work for but will, on reflection, ask them and, if there’s a conflict, I will terminate them, immediately!” — President Trump

CNN

• “Pete and Jim, this should absolutely ensure your election, I guarantee you that,” — President Trump

France 24