Brief
Trump says LaCivita and Blair are only outside consultants after Balkans trip
Trump wrote on Truth Social that the two advisers do not work for him and will be asked about any conflict of interest.
By Felo News Desk · Published
President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social on Wednesday that political advisers Chris LaCivita and James Blair are "outside consultants" who do not work for him and that he will ask them about any potential conflict of interest.
LaCivita, who served as Trump’s 2024 co‑campaign manager, and Blair, a former White House deputy chief of staff, were reported by The New York Times to have been paid hundreds of thousands of dollars through a Washington, D.C. law firm retained by the government of Republika Srpska, the semi‑autonomous Bosnian entity aligned with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Independent notes that the payments were made ahead of Sunday’s elections in Republika Srpska and that the advisers defended work for the far‑right government rather than the nationalist party that controls it. After leaving the White House, Blair now leads the Trump‑connected super PAC MAGA Inc., while LaCivita serves as a senior adviser to the same group.
Trump’s statement read, "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!" He added that consultants are allowed to work for other clients, similar to other Washington consultants.
Republika Srpska leader Milorad Dodik, who has courted Trump’s support, recently met Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin, an image shared by Sputnik and Reuters. MAGA Inc. spokesman Alex Pfeiffer declined comment to The New York Times about the Balkans trip.
Key facts
- Trump said LaCivita and Blair are only outside consultants and do not work for him (independent.co.uk)
- LaCivita and Blair were reportedly paid hundreds of thousands of dollars by a law firm hired by Republika Srpska (independent.co.uk)
- Republika Srpska aligns with Russian President Vladimir Putin (independent.co.uk)
- James Blair now leads the Trump‑connected super PAC MAGA Inc. (independent.co.uk)
- Milorad Dodik met Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin last month (independent.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “Trump distances himself from close allies who advised pro-Putin government in Europe”
