Trump Advisers LaCivita and Blair Took Hundreds of Thousands From Pro-Russian Bosnian Leader

Senior Republican strategists Chris LaCivita and James Blair, both central to Trump's political operation, traveled to Bosnia's Republika Srpska ahead of its October 4, 2026 elections. The New York Times reported each was paid hundreds of thousands of dollars, hired through a Washington law firm retained by the Serb-run territory's government, led by pro-Russian figure Milorad Dodik. Justice Department filings show Republika Srpska has paid Trump-linked operatives more than $4 million since 2025.

The payments raised conflict-of-interest questions given the pair's roles steering Trump's 2026 midterm strategy and Dodik's September 29 meeting with Vladimir Putin. On October 7, Trump said on Truth Social he would fire the two if their outside work created a conflict, then said there was none because neither currently works in the White House. Former strategist Steve Bannon called them "grifters" and demanded a review of the payments.

Neither adviser has detailed the work publicly, and Trump has taken no further action against either as of this writing.