← Chronicle · Succession · April 10, 2026

James Blair Takes Leave from the White House to Lead the Midterm Political Operation

President Trump announced on April 10, 2026 that James Blair, his Deputy Chief of Staff for Legislative, Political, and Public Affairs, would take a leave of absence from the White House to lead the administration’s outside political operation for the 2026 midterm elections.

In the announcement, posted on Truth Social, the President called Blair “one of the brightest political minds in the Country” and “a Political WARRIOR,” credited him with preparing Republicans to “DEFY LONGSTANDING HISTORY AND WIN the Midterms,” and said Blair would “return again to the White House” after the election “so we can finish the job.” Blair left the White House payroll in May 2026 to run the midterm effort from outside the government, through the pro-Trump political operation. Richard Walters has served in an acting capacity in the legislative, political, and public affairs deputy role during Blair’s absence.

Blair had been the Trump 2024 campaign’s political director before joining the White House staff in January 2025; the move the President announced here is the campaign machinery reassembling outside the White House for the midterm cycle, with a stated return to follow.

Sources: President Trump’s Truth Social announcement, April 10, 2026, as reported by ANI, April 11, 2026; Trump Team Report roster audit, research cluster C (banked 2026-10-18): Blair — Deputy Chief of Staff January 2025 to May 2026, runs the midterm political operation; Walters acting in the deputy role.