James Blair and Chris LaCivita, two of President Trump's top political advisers, have confirmed they donated their full fee from consulting work in Bosnia to Trump's presidential library fund, according to a Washington Examiner report 3. The New York Post first reported the donation on Oct. 22, citing four sources, according to Raw Story 1. Each man earned more than $100,000 from the job, per that account 1.
The exact amount given to the library has not been made public. The sources say Trump learned of the gift secondhand 1. One source told the Post he was "gloating" in private. Another said he was happy to hear about it 1.
What the work was
The New York Times reported earlier this month that the two advised Milorad Dodik before Bosnia's Oct. 4 regional elections. Al Jazeera, summarizing the Times report, said each was paid hundreds of thousands of dollars through a Washington law firm hired by the government of Republika Srpska 2. Republika Srpska is the Serb-run region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Dodik's party won more than 55 percent of the vote, Al Jazeera reported 2.
Al Jazeera describes Dodik as a pro-Russian politician who met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Sept. 29 2. In February, a Sarajevo court sentenced him to one year in prison for defying the international envoy overseeing Bosnia's peace deal. He was also banned from office for six years 2. Dodik had long been under U.S. sanctions, and Al Jazeera reports they were lifted 2.
From Channel GOPTrump says he alone decides who gets paidDonald Trump · 130 plays · captioned, with the source named
Republika Srpska has paid more than $4 million since the start of 2025 to lobbyists and political operatives linked to Trump, according to U.S. Justice Department filings cited by Al Jazeera 2.
Trump's own words
On Oct. 7, Trump said on Truth Social that the two were not his employees. He also set a condition for keeping them 1.
if there's a conflict, I will terminate them, immediately!
Trump later said in the Oval Office that there was no conflict. He said the two were not current White House employees and, as consultants, could have more than one client, Al Jazeera reported 2. Steve Bannon, Trump's former chief strategist, sharply criticized the two men and demanded a detailed review of their money, according to Politico as cited by Al Jazeera 2.
What happens next
Blair joined Trump at a South Carolina rally on Wednesday. A White House official told the Post that Trump did not seem angry with him 1. The Post also reported that the donation likely will not spare the two men income taxes on the money 1.
Blair was a White House deputy chief of staff until May. Both men now hold senior roles at the MAGA Inc. super PAC, the main pro-Trump fundraising group 1. The Washington Examiner notes that they ran Trump's 2024 campaign and worked for MAGA Inc. 3. The midterm election is Nov. 3.
That matters because the library fund is a vehicle for gifts to the president himself. Money from a foreign government's consulting contract, once routed there, goes toward something Trump personally benefits from. The reports we reviewed do not say the gift broke any law, and they do not quote any Democratic official on it. The questions are about disclosure and influence, and the amount given has not been released.
The Record
- Dodik's party wins Republika Srpska's regional elections after advice from Blair and LaCivita, per the New York Times as summarized by Al Jazeera 2.
- Trump says on Truth Social he will fire the advisers 'immediately' if there is a conflict 1.
- The New York Post reports the pair donated their Bosnia fees to Trump's presidential library 1.
Sources
- Raw Story, “Trump advisers facing firing over foreign gig buy back his favor with library gift: report” (2026-10-23). rawstory.com/james-blair-trump-library/
- Al Jazeera, “What were Trump operatives doing for pro-Russian politician Dodik in Bosnia?” (2026-10-08). aljazeera.com/features/2026/10/8/what-were-trump-operatives-
- Washington Examiner, “Blair confirms donating consulting fee to Trump's presidential library” (2026-10-23). washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-house/4777120/blair-lacivi
- Political Wire, “Trump Aides Donate Consulting Fees to His Library” (2026-10-23). politicalwire.com/2026/10/23/trump-aides-donate-consulting-f
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