What were Trump operatives doing for pro-Russian politician Dodik in Bosnia?

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that a New York Times story has sparked scrutiny over why two Trump-linked political operatives, James Blair and Chris LaCivita, visited Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik ahead of elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Blair runs Trump’s MAGA Inc. fundraising operation, and LaCivita is a senior adviser to Trump. According to the report cited by Al Jazeera, both were paid to advise Dodik, who leads Republika Srpska and is widely described as pro-Russian and nationalist.

The article says the advisers were hired through a Washington law firm working for the Republika Srpska government, and that filings with the US Department of Justice show the entity has spent more than $4 million since the start of 2025 on lobbying and related political work tied to Trump figures. The reporting has fueled criticism inside the Republican Party, especially because the trip came during a busy period for Trump’s domestic political operation. Steve Bannon publicly criticized the arrangement, while Blair and LaCivita have not commented.

Al Jazeera also notes the broader political background: Dodik has long pushed separatist positions in Bosnia’s Serb-dominated entity, has faced legal and political penalties at home, and has recently seen US sanctions eased under the Trump administration. That context helps explain why his ties to Trump-aligned advisers have raised questions about influence, money, and foreign political access.