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Trump says he may fire consultants LaCivita and Blair over Bosnian Serb party work

After the New York Times reported that Chris LaCivita and James Blair were paid to advise a Russian-aligned party in Republika Srpska, Trump said on Truth Social he would "terminate" them if he finds a conflict.

5 outlets · 2L · 0C · 3R First reported Account updated
Image: New York Post
Image: Raw Story
Image: Just the News
Image: The Independent
Image: Washington Examiner

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The story, neutrally told

Mixed · 2President Trump said on Truth Social on Wednesday 7 October that he would "terminate" political consultants Chris LaCivita and James Blair "immediately" if, after asking them, he finds a conflict over their work for a pro-Russian party in Bosnia. Mixed · 2Trump described the two as outside consultants who "do not work for me, other than as outside consultants", said they probably have many clients, and said he did not know who else they work for. Right · 1He added that consultants are "allowed to do work for others, just like all consultants in Washington, D.C."

Left · 1The New York Times reported on Tuesday, citing four anonymous sources, that Blair and LaCivita were in Republika Srpska, a partially self-governing entity in Bosnia, just before its elections, and were paid "hundreds of thousands of dollars each" for election advice. Left · 1The Times called the work the "latest example of Trump advisers profiting from far-right politicians abroad who have sought favor from the U.S. president", according to Raw Story. Right · 1Blair left his post as White House deputy chief of staff in May to lead Republican midterm efforts at the MAGA Inc. super PAC, and LaCivita ran Trump's 2024 campaign with Susie Wiles, now White House chief of staff.

Right · 1The New York Post said the revelation drew a stunned reaction partly because the pair were focused on Republika Srpska's election concerns rather than those of Republicans struggling in polls ahead of the 3 November midterms.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.

Left2 outlets

Framing
Presents Trump as trying to distance himself from advisers exposed by the Times for ties to a Russian-aligned government.
Emphasis
The Times' sourcing and its description of the pair as top advisers profiting from far-right foreign politicians.
Leaves out or plays down
Does not mention the midterm polling context or Blair and LaCivita's current roles.
Charged language
“pushes away”“attempted Wednesday to distance himself”
For example
“attempted Wednesday to distance himself from two political consultants” — Raw Story

Centre0 outlets

No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.

Right3 outlets

Framing
Leads with Trump's threat to terminate two key advisers, set against Republican worries about the midterms.
Emphasis
Blair's and LaCivita's roles and the political damage ahead of 3 November.
Leaves out or plays down
Does not mention the Times' anonymous sourcing or its 'latest example' characterisation.
Charged language
“raked in”“side hustle”“potential bloodbath”
For example
“Republicans brace for a potential bloodbath in the Nov. 3 midterm elections” — New York Post
“Their side hustle was revealed Tuesday by the New York Times” — New York Post