Katie Wiles, daughter of White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, was seen at a shooting range holding a rifle, posing next to Željko Budimir, the Interior Minister of Republika Srpska. CBS News confirmed this on Thursday. Republika Srpska is a self-governing region in Bosnia and Herzegovina with a Serb-majority population.
The administration of Republika Srpska has forged close political ties with Russia and its leader, Vladimir Putin. Katie Wiles made her way to the region in mid-August for her work with Continental Strategy, a political lobbying firm, according to the company’s confirmation to CBS News. This development comes as connections between individuals in President Donald Trump’s entourage and the Bosnian Serb region face scrutiny, led by pro-Russia politician, Milorad Dodik.
A representative from Continental Strategy shared with CBS News, “Katie Wiles visited the region in mid-August for two days under the invitation of a U.S.-based company. She was there for conducting a feasibility study.” They added, “Wiles provides strategic communications support to this U.S. company and has been involved for more than two years. She has not discussed anything regarding Srpska with any United States government official.” This situation unfolds less than three weeks before the November 3 midterm elections, with control over the House and Senate at stake, amid rumors that Trump may replace Susie Wiles as chief of staff. However, Trump has refuted these rumors.
The appearance of Katie Wiles alongside Budimir has raised inquiries about her identity and intentions in Republika Srpska. Newsweek reached out to the White House by email and Continental Strategy by phone for further comments.
The Picture’s Content
A picture circulated from Katie Wiles’ Instagram profile, tagged @katie.wiles. CBS News shared a screenshot, revealing its caption “Mostly work + some serious fun!” tagged with Republika Srpska. The tagged account featured numerous images of women with limited context.
In the image, Katie Wiles stands with a rifle next to Budimir, identified by CBS News. Budimir has met with Putin through official delegations and received Russian state honors from Putin in 2025. He’s voiced support for reinforced Russia-Serbia relations.
The photo gained traction after conservative Albanian American activist Evi Kokalari shared it. Kokalari advises Trump against consulting Susie Wiles on matters concerning Bosnia and Herzegovina due to Katie’s involvement. Kokalari posted, “@POTUS should not consult with @SusieWiles47 regarding affairs about Chris LaCivita, James Blair (Susie Wiles’ associates), and Bosnia and Herzegovina, since Susie’s daughter, @KatieWiles0303, is actively engaged in dubious lobbying with pro-Russia Dodik. People have informed me about Katie Wiles’ longtime work for @MiloradDodik, posing a significant conflict of interest.”
Kokalari further explored angles correlating Susie’s meetings with Željka Cvijanović, Serbian presidential candidate, at the White House on September 21, questioning potential interference in foreign elections. These images of Susie’s daughter in Republika Srpska date back to August.
Background on Katie Wiles
Katie Wiles is one of two daughters of Susie Wiles; her sister is Caroline. She has been present in political spheres, serving as chief of communications for Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry before joining Continental Strategy as a partner. This Washington, D.C.-based firm participated in Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign.
Notably, a “page not found” error emerged when attempting to locate Katie Wiles’ bio page on Continental Strategy’s website, whereas other personnel’s bios were reachable.
This report was contributed by Samantha Beech and Dave Siminoff from Newsweek.
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