Donald Trump has responded to reports linking two of his political advisers to a controversial engagement in Republika Srpska, seeking to put public distance between himself and them while leaving open the possibility of dismissal if a conflict of interest is confirmed. Among the names mentioned is Chris LaCivita, also known in Albanian politics for his role alongside Sali Berisha.
Trump: They are not part of my staff
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Chris LaCivita and James Blair are not part of his full-time staff, but outside consultants.
According to his version, they are allowed to have other clients, as is commonly the case with political consultants in Washington. Trump stressed that their engagement with him is limited only to the role of outside collaborators.
Warning over conflict of interest
Trump said he was not aware of the two advisers’ clients or other engagements outside the work they do for him.
He added that he would seek clarification and warned that if it turns out there is a conflict of interest, he will remove them immediately. The statement sounds like an attempt to contain the political cost of the reports that have circulated about them.
What is being said about the engagement in Republika Srpska
The reaction comes after reports were published saying LaCivita and Blair traveled to Republika Srpska, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, before the elections and provided advisory services to the authorities there.
According to those reports, based on sources familiar with the agreement, each of them was paid hundreds of thousands of dollars through a Washington-based law firm engaged by the government of Republika Srpska. The claims have not been confirmed by Trump, who said he will verify the situation.
LaCivita’s connection to Albanian politics
Chris LaCivita is not an unknown figure to the Albanian public. He has been engaged as a political adviser to Sali Berisha and the opposition camp in Albania.
The Associated Press has mentioned LaCivita among important figures from Donald Trump’s campaigns who were engaged to help Berisha in Albania. The report says he was part of the American team of consultants who worked on Berisha’s political strategy in the 2015 elections.
Trump’s statement does not clarify whether cooperation with the two consultants will continue without consequences, but it clearly shows that the issue has become a political problem even within his own circle.
For Albania, LaCivita’s name remains politically sensitive, precisely because of his role in Berisha’s camp and the link this creates with broader developments on the American scene.