President Donald Trump is warning that two prominent Republican political advisers could be removed from his political operation if their outside consulting work is found to create a conflict of interest.
The warning comes after reports revealed that longtime Trump allies Chris LaCivita and James Blair earned hundreds of thousands of dollars while advising political interests in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The controversy arrives at a critical time for Republicans as the party prepares for the November midterm elections and fights to maintain its strength in Congress.
Trump addressed the situation Wednesday on Truth Social, making clear that both men serve as outside consultants rather than traditional members of his staff.
“Chris LaCivita and James Blair are outside consultants. They do not work for me, other than as outside consultants,” Trump wrote.
Trump said the two political strategists are permitted to work for other clients, much like many consultants in Washington, D.C.
However, the president also said he plans to examine whether any of those relationships create a conflict with their responsibilities to his political organization.
“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!” Trump wrote.
The statement puts new attention on two experienced Republican strategists who have played important roles in Trump’s political movement.
Who Are Chris LaCivita and James Blair?
Both LaCivita and Blair have been closely involved in Trump’s political operation.
Blair previously served as Trump’s White House deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs.
He later left the administration to take a leadership role connected to Republican midterm efforts at MAGA Inc., a super PAC that supports Trump and Republican candidates.
LaCivita was one of the senior figures behind Trump’s successful 2024 presidential campaign.
He worked alongside Susie Wiles, who later became Trump’s White House chief of staff.
LaCivita has continued to serve as an influential outside adviser and has remained involved with MAGA Inc.
Because of their senior roles, reports about their international consulting work quickly attracted attention in Republican political circles.
Report Raises Questions About Overseas Consulting Work
According to reporting from The New York Times, LaCivita and Blair advised political interests connected to Republika Srpska, one of the two main political entities that make up Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The report said both men received hundreds of thousands of dollars for their consulting work.
That revelation has raised questions about whether high-level Republican advisers should be spending significant time on overseas political campaigns while the GOP faces competitive races across the United States.
Republicans are preparing for a major midterm election battle, with control of Congress potentially depending on a relatively small number of closely contested races.
For some conservatives, that makes the timing of the overseas consulting work particularly important.
Voters who helped return Trump to the White House may reasonably expect senior Republican strategists to remain focused on protecting the party’s congressional majorities and advancing the president’s agenda.
MAGA Inc. Pushes Back Against Concerns
MAGA Inc. has rejected the suggestion that the overseas work distracted LaCivita or Blair from their responsibilities in the United States.
Spokesman Alex Pfeiffer said the two advisers remained actively involved in Republican campaign planning.
According to Pfeiffer, LaCivita and Blair recently hosted a weekend conference call with campaign officials to review polling and election data.
That response suggests the organization believes both advisers are capable of handling outside clients while continuing to work on Republican political strategy.
Still, Trump’s public comments indicate that he wants more information before deciding whether their outside activities are acceptable.
Advisers Reportedly Traveled to Bosnia
LaCivita and Blair reportedly returned from a weekend trip to Republika Srpska after advising the ruling political party ahead of a regional election.
The party is associated with Milorad Dodik, one of the most prominent Bosnian Serb political figures.
Dodik has maintained a close relationship with Russia and has publicly expressed appreciation for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
That relationship has made Dodik a controversial figure in European and American foreign policy discussions.
Reports have also indicated that Dodik and groups connected to him have spent millions of dollars on lobbying efforts involving individuals with ties to Trump’s broader political network.
Dodik was placed under U.S. sanctions in 2022 over accusations that his political activities threatened the governing structure established after the Bosnian War.
Those sanctions were lifted in October 2025.
Why Republika Srpska Matters
The political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina remains complicated more than three decades after the Bosnian War.
The 1995 Dayton Agreement helped end the conflict and established the modern political structure of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The agreement divided much of the country’s governing authority between two entities.
Republika Srpska governs predominantly Serb-majority areas, while the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina represents areas populated largely by Bosniaks and Croats.
Both entities operate within a broader national government.
The arrangement was designed to preserve peace while allowing the country’s major ethnic communities a significant degree of political autonomy.
However, tensions have continued over the years.
Some politicians within Republika Srpska have supported greater independence from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Others have favored closer political relationships with neighboring Serbia.
Western officials have frequently expressed concern that separatist movements could weaken the Dayton framework and create renewed instability in the Balkans.
Trump Says Outside Work Is Allowed — Within Limits
Trump did not accuse either LaCivita or Blair of illegal activity.
Instead, his statement focused on whether their private consulting work creates a conflict with their responsibilities inside the president’s political operation.
That distinction is important.
Political consultants commonly represent multiple clients, including corporations, advocacy organizations, candidates and foreign interests when permitted under applicable law.
Trump acknowledged that reality in his statement.
But he also made clear that loyalty and potential conflicts remain important considerations.
If his review determines that either adviser has crossed that line, Trump says he is prepared to end their relationship immediately.
Midterm Elections Raise the Stakes
The controversy comes as Republicans prepare for one of the most important political tests of Trump’s second term.
Midterm elections traditionally create challenges for the party controlling the White House.
Republicans will need strong voter turnout while defending competitive House and Senate seats across the country.
That puts considerable pressure on political strategists responsible for polling, advertising, voter outreach and campaign messaging.
LaCivita and Blair possess extensive experience in those areas, making their involvement potentially valuable to Republican candidates.
At the same time, reports that senior advisers are earning large sums from overseas political work could become a distraction if questions about conflicts continue.
Conservative Voters May Want Answers
For many Republican voters, the central issue may not be whether political consultants are allowed to have additional clients.
The more important question is whether those outside relationships interfere with their responsibilities to American candidates and voters.
Trump appears to share that concern.
His response suggests that he does not automatically object to his advisers working for other organizations.
But he is drawing a clear boundary around potential conflicts of interest.
That approach could resonate with conservative voters who want Republican leaders and political professionals focused on delivering results at home.
What Happens Next?
The next development will likely depend on what Trump learns about the advisers’ business relationships.
If he concludes that the Bosnia-related consulting work does not interfere with their Republican responsibilities, both men could continue serving as influential outside advisers.
If Trump finds a conflict, however, he has already said what he intends to do.
He will terminate their relationship immediately.
That makes the controversy another developing political story to watch as Republicans move closer to the November midterm elections.
With control of Congress potentially at stake, Trump and the Republican Party can afford few distractions.
And for two of the president’s most experienced political advisers, their overseas consulting work has suddenly placed them directly in the spotlight.