Chris LaCivita and James Blair advised the government of Republika Srpska, a semi-autonomous entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina, ahead of local elections. President Donald Trump threatened Wednesday to fire the two senior political consultants if he finds a conflict of interest arising from that work. They are currently leading Republican strategy for the midterm elections, putting their foreign consulting roles in tension with their positions in Trump's political operation.
In a Truth Social post, Trump referred to LaCivita and Blair as "outside consultants," stating they do not work for him in any other capacity. He claimed he did not know who else they worked for but said he would ask them. "If there's a conflict, I will terminate them, immediately!" Trump wrote.
LaCivita served as co-manager of Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and is a senior adviser at MAGA Inc., a super PAC affiliated with the president. Blair, who previously served as White House deputy chief of staff, left the administration earlier this year to join MAGA Inc. He also acted as a senior adviser on the 2024 campaign.
According to the New York Times, the pair visited Republika Srpska to advise the government on voting-related issues. They were hired by the government rather than the nationalist party that controls it, although that party dominates the territory's political landscape. A source familiar with the trip told Axios that the visit consisted of "a normal weekend full of calls and texts on the various races and our strategy/tactics in each." The source said Blair and LaCivita were present for about 48 hours to provide strategic advice on election integrity, specifically regarding the first election where the territory was forced to use new ballots and Smartmatic voting equipment.
Caroline Wren, a registered lobbyist for Srpska, stated that the republic's primary interest is strengthening relations with the Trump administration. She argued that the visit was not about Russia or President Vladimir Putin, but about supporting Christians seeking freedom and autonomy. Wren said she observed Blair on the phone discussing U.S. elections during the trip and claimed he was on the ground for approximately 36 hours.
The nationalist party in Republika Srpska had warned that new voting machines could threaten its hold on power, a concern echoing Trump's previous criticisms of U.S. voting infrastructure. A national election commission required the territory to adopt the new equipment. The development occurs as Trump's family businesses expand foreign dealings. The Trump Organization has more than 20 Trump-branded projects planned or under construction abroad, a number more than triple the overseas properties operating before Trump returned to office.