White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles reportedly held a crisis meeting with senior advisers following revelations that two political consultants linked to President Donald Trump had worked for Milorad Dodik‘s political allies in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
According to the Daily Mail, Wiles called the meeting at the White House after reports raised questions about the activities of Chris LaCivita and James Blair.
The controversy comes ahead of the November 3 US midterm elections, where both consultants have important roles in Republican political operations.
Trump Advisers’ Work in Bosnia Raises Questions
LaCivita and Blair traveled to Republika Srpska, the Serb-majority entity within Bosnia and Herzegovina, shortly before the country’s October 4 elections.
The New York Times reported that the Republika Srpska government hired the two consultants for election-related advice. Sources cited by the newspaper said each received hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Both men have worked closely with Trump. LaCivita helped manage his 2024 presidential campaign, while Blair previously served as White House deputy chief of staff.
Their work in Bosnia prompted questions about possible conflicts of interest as Republicans prepared for the US congressional elections.
Trump addressed the controversy on October 7 through his Truth Social platform.
He described LaCivita and Blair as outside consultants who were permitted to work for other clients. He also said he would terminate their services if he discovered a conflict of interest.
Trump later indicated that he did not believe their work presented such a conflict.
According to the Daily Mail, the controversy also prompted discussions among senior White House staff.
The newspaper reported that Wiles held a meeting with close advisers to address concerns surrounding the consultants’ activities. The reported meeting has not received independent official confirmation.
Republika Srpska’s US Lobbying Draws Further Scrutiny
The controversy has also raised questions about lobbying firms representing Republika Srpska in Washington.
The Financial Times reported that Katie Wiles, the daughter of the White House chief of staff, is a partner at Continental Strategy.
The company signed a contract worth $35,000 per month to represent Republika Srpska.
The firm has stated that Katie Wiles did not lobby US government officials on behalf of the Bosnian Serb entity. A White House official also said Susie Wiles does not discuss her daughters’ business activities with them.
Separate financial disclosures have highlighted another lobbying arrangement involving Stokes Strategies, a Utah-based firm.
According to reported US Justice Department filings, the firm received approximately $500,500 for work connected to Republika Srpska over a six-month period ending April 30, 2026.
Its activities included arranging meetings between Milorad Dodik, Željka Cvijanović and Republican lawmakers in the United States.
The reported lobbying payments were separate from the consulting work of LaCivita and Blair and Continental Strategy’s contract.
The reports have increased scrutiny of Republika Srpska’s political connections in Washington, particularly its relationships with individuals associated with Trump’s political network.
However, the available information does not establish that the separate lobbying and consulting arrangements were coordinated or that those involved violated US law.
