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Trump Posts on Truth Social to Distance Himself from Advisors After Balkans Trip Report
By Drooid · · How we work
Trump Distances Himself from Advisors After Balkans Trip Report
President Donald Trump used his Truth Social platform to assert that political consultants Chris LaCivita and James Blair are “outside consultants” who do not work for him and that any potential conflicts will be terminated “immediately.” The post followed a New York Times report revealing that the two advisers had traveled to Republika Srpska, a self-governing region of Bosnia and Herzegovina, to provide paid advice to a government aligned with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Background: Advisors’ Work for Republika Srpska
LaCivita, who co-managed Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, and Blair, a former deputy chief of staff now heading the Trump-backed super PAC MAGA Inc., were criticized for receiving “hundreds of thousands of dollars” to advise the pro-Russian regime during the run-up to the midterms. Their involvement was described by a Republican operative as “clearly a bad look” given the timing of the elections.
Natalie Harp’s Role in Crafting the President’s Response
Executive assistant Natalie Harp, who earns $150,000 a year, typed the Truth Social statement after Trump dictated its wording. Harp has been identified as the staff member who routinely manages Trump’s social-media output, including posting controversial AI-generated images and videos.
Financial Details and Campaign Implications
LaCivita’s consulting firm was previously reported to have received millions of dollars through various contracts, though a lawsuit he filed against the Daily Beast was withdrawn without producing discovery. Blair’s super PAC is spending “hundreds of millions of dollars” in an effort to mitigate a projected midterm loss for the GOP. The controversy underscores internal tensions within Trump’s campaign operation as the party approaches the 2024 election cycle.