As President Trump campaigned for midterms, two top advisers, James Blair and Chris La Civita, spent days in Republika Srpska, a pro-Russian territory in Bosnia and Herzegovina, ahead of elections there. They were paid hundreds of thousands of dollars each through a Washington law firm retained by the government, according to four people familiar with the travel.
The engagement highlights Trump advisers profiting from far-right politicians abroad. Republika Srpska, under nationalist control, aligns with Vladimir Putin while courting Trump allies. The party warned voting machines could threaten its power, echoing Trump's false claims about the 2020 U.S. election. Despite reported delays, the party won convincingly.
Milorad Dodik, the party leader, thanked Putin and credited Trump's 2024 victory for a favorable environment. Blair and La Civita returned Monday, having played key roles in the midterm ad campaign. MAGA Inc. spokesman Alex Pfeiffer declined to comment on the trip but said they remained engaged, hosting a team call Saturday.
Records show Trump-connected lobbyists have been paid over $4 million by Republika Srpska since last year. The influence campaign led to the Trump administration lifting sanctions on Dodik and his aides.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing