James Blair and Chris LaCivita, two senior political advisers to Donald Trump, confirmed on Friday that they donated the entirety of the fees they earned from consulting work for a political party in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The party, the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD), is led by Milorad Dodik, a figure known for his pro-Russian stance and separatist rhetoric.

The donation was directed to the Trump presidential library. In a statement regarding the decision, Blair expressed personal loyalty to the former president, stating, “I love the President and am eternally grateful for the opportunities he has provided me.” The disclosure of this consulting work has drawn attention due to the geopolitical implications of working with a party that maintains close ties to the Kremlin, particularly given the current tensions surrounding the war in Ukraine and U.S. foreign policy.

While the advisers have framed the donation as a gesture of support for the former president, critics have raised questions regarding the optics of high-level campaign staff accepting payment from a foreign political entity that is frequently at odds with U.S. diplomatic interests in the Balkans. The Hill reported the confirmation of the donation, noting that the advisers sought to distance themselves from the controversy by redirecting the funds to a project associated with Trump’s legacy. There is no indication that the donation violates federal election laws, though the arrangement highlights the complex intersection of private consulting work and political influence within the Trump campaign structure.