James Blair eyes White House leave to run Trump's midterms push

Alex Isenstadt

This is James Blair with President Trump — President Trump and White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Legislative, Political, and Public Affairs James Blair at the White House in July. Photo: Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images

Deputy White House Chief of Staff James Blair is considering taking a leave from his role to help run President Trump's outside political operation, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: The move would represent the clearest sign yet that Trump's outside political operation, which has more than $300 million in the bank, is prepared to play a major role in the midterms.

The background: Blair was a senior adviser on Trump's 2024 campaign, and is a longtime aide to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.

He has led the Trump White House political operation since the beginning of the administration.
"James is a top lieutenant of the President's and has been invaluable to me for the better part of a decade. ... Consideration of the best way to deploy a most valuable political asset for success in the midterms is a common sense and obvious thing to do," Wiles told Politico, which first reported the story, in a statement.

Add Axios on Google

James Blair eyes White House leave to run Trump's midterms push

What to read next