Katie Wiles, daughter of White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, appeared in a controversial photograph at a shooting range. She was holding a rifle next to Željko Budimir, interior minister of Republika Srpska. CBS News confirmed the event. Republika Srpska, a Serb-majority region, has close ties with Russia and President Vladimir Putin.
Katie Wiles visited the region in mid-August for business. Her political lobbying firm, Continental Strategy, confirmed her visit to CBS News. The photograph raised concerns due to President Donald Trump’s connections to the region, led by pro-Russia politician Milorad Dodik. A spokesperson from Continental Strategy stated that Wiles was in the region with a U.S. company for a feasibility study. Wiles has worked with this company for over two years, providing strategic communications. She did not discuss Republika Srpska with any U.S. government officials.
This development comes less than three weeks before the November 3 midterm elections. Control of the House and Senate are at stake. Speculation surrounds Trump possibly replacing Susie Wiles as chief of staff, although he has denied these claims. The picture of Katie Wiles with Budimir invites queries about her activities in Republika Srpska.
What the Picture Shows
The photo appeared on Katie Wiles’ Instagram account stories. CBS News shared a screenshot, showing Wiles captioning the image “Mostly work + some serious fun!” and tagging Republika Srpska. Wiles is seen holding a rifle next to Budimir, a known associate of Putin. The photograph gained traction after conservative Albanian American activist Evi Kokalari shared it. Kokalari urged President Trump to avoid consulting Susie Wiles on matters relating to Bosnia and Herzegovina because of her daughter’s involvement.
Kokalari claimed Katie Wiles worked with pro-Russian Dodik for months, creating a conflict of interest. She referenced Željka Cvijanović’s visit to the White House, linking it to alleged interference in a foreign election. Kokalari emphasized these activities happening without Trump’s awareness.
Who Is Katie Wiles?
Katie Wiles is one of Susie Wiles’ two daughters. Her sister is Caroline. Katie Wiles has experience in politics, serving as chief of communications for Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry before joining Continental Strategy as a partner. This firm is based in Washington, D.C., and was involved in Trump’s 2024 campaign, according to People in March 2026.
Attempts to access Katie Wiles’ bio on the Continental Strategy website returned a “page not found” message. Other staff members’ bios were available. For more information or comments, Newsweek contacted editors Samantha Beech and Dave Siminoff.
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