Scandal in Trump’s team: two advisers face dismissal over work in the Balkans
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media before departing West Palm Beach aboard Air Force One, Florida, U.S., March 23, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
US President Donald Trump is considering terminating cooperation with two of his political advisers, James Blair and Chris LaCivita, over their trip to Republika Srpska, where they reportedly advised pro-Russian political forces.
This is reported by the Financial Times and CNN .
Blair and LaCivita are influential figures in Trump’s political team. Blair heads the president’s super PAC MAGA Inc., and LaCivita was one of Trump’s campaign managers for the 2024 election. At the same time, Trump himself stressed that they work with him only as outside consultants and may have other clients.
The scandal erupted after it became known about their visit to the Balkans on the eve of elections in Republika Srpska, an autonomous entity within Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to The New York Times, the consultants worked for a party affiliated with pro-Russian forces and received hundreds of thousands of dollars each through a Washington law firm for consulting on election issues. CNN also reports that Trump was unaware of their trip until the media reports appeared.
Trump himself stated that he did not see a conflict of interest because Blair and LaCivita are independent consultants. At the same time, he allowed them to be fired if such a conflict was established.
“They are allowed to do work for others, just like all consultants in Washington, D.C. I have no idea who else they work for, but if a conflict of interest is discovered, I will fire them immediately,” Trump said.
The situation has become particularly sensitive as the U.S. midterm elections approach. The vote on November 3 is less than a month away, and Blair plays a major role in MAGA Inc.’s work and support for Republican candidates.
At the same time, the Financial Times notes that the work of American political consultants for foreign clients is not unusual in itself. It is the combination of such activities with their role in Trump’s political campaign and the nature of the Balkan client that raises questions.
In particular, in the elections in Republika Srpska, which took place on October 4, forces associated with the region’s former president, Milorad Dodik, known for his close ties to Russia, won.
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