BANJA LUKA, Bosnia and Herzegovina – The eldest son of President Donald Trump made a controversial visit to Bosnia’s Serb Republic on Tuesday, where he delivered sharp criticism of the European Union during a private gathering with regional leaders.
During his stop in Banja Luka, the de facto capital of the Serb Republic, Donald Trump Jr. described the European Union as “a little bit of a mess” while speaking to a closed panel of political figures and business leaders. He was invited by Igor Dodik, son of the region’s former separatist leader Milorad Dodik.
Trump Jr., who serves as executive vice president of the Trump Organization alongside his brother Eric, shared feedback he claimed to have received from international business contacts. “But it’s a disaster they feel also needs to be fixed because of the impact that it does have on the values and Western civilization,” he stated, referring to concerns about Europe’s current state.
The timing of the visit aligned with Vice President JD Vance’s appearance in Budapest, where he accused the EU of interfering in Hungarian electoral processes.
The Serb Republic represents one half of Bosnia’s dual autonomous structure, established through the U.S.-brokered Dayton peace agreement in 1995. This accord ended a devastating three-year conflict that claimed approximately 100,000 lives and forced around 2 million people from their homes.
Milorad Dodik, who previously led the region, lost his political position last August following a court ruling that prohibited him from holding office. He had faced U.S. sanctions for violations of the Dayton peace framework but has emerged as a vocal supporter of Trump administration policies.
“The arrival of Vance in Hungary and Donald Trump Jr. in Banja Luka is a signal of an important shift in the U.S. administration under President Trump, showing concern for this part of Europe,” Dodik wrote on social media platform X.
The Treasury Department removed sanctions against Dodik and his associates in October without providing public justification for the decision. Serbian officials indicate they have been working behind the scenes to strengthen ties with Washington while preserving their relationship with Russia.
The panel discussion was restricted to government-friendly media organizations, though footage was subsequently aired on regional television networks.
