Dodik returns from US, claims popularity among Trump supporters and plans constitutional changes in Republika Srpska

Speaking to public broadcaster RTRS in Banja Luka, Dodik said he had attended a gathering at US President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, where participants discussed strategies for the 2028 presidential election.

He claimed to have attracted considerable attention from attendees but did not identify prominent American politicians he had met.

“I could hardly get through because so many people were stopping me,” Dodik said, describing the participants as people who valued Christianity.

Dodik also portrayed Serbs as being at the forefront of what he described as a struggle between Christianity and Islam, arguing that Republika Srpska should be strengthened in that context.

“We have gained visibility after decades of demonisation by our enemies, the Muslims from Sarajevo,” he said.

He further claimed that Serbs had been pushed into Bosnia and Herzegovina because of what he called a mistake by the Clinton administration.

US elections and relations with Washington

Asked whether the Democratic takeover of both chambers of Congress could affect Republika Srpska's relations with Washington, Dodik downplayed the potential consequences.

His remarks follow multimillion-dollar lobbying efforts by Republika Srpska authorities to establish contacts with figures close to Trump.

Dodik acknowledged that Democratic lawmakers could launch new congressional initiatives but argued that this would not fundamentally change the administration's approach to Bosnia.

He also expressed confidence that Washington's policy towards the Office of the High Representative (OHR), the international institution overseeing civilian implementation of Bosnia's peace agreement, would remain unchanged.

His comments suggested that he expects the OHR's role to weaken during the remaining two years of Trump's presidency.

Constitutional changes and government formation

Dodik said the process of establishing new authorities in Republika Srpska would begin next week with the formation of the entity's parliament.

He expressed confidence that his SNSD could assemble the two-thirds parliamentary majority required to amend the entity's constitution.

At the state level, Dodik said his priority was not participation in government for its own sake but blocking decisions he considered harmful to Republika Srpska.

Relations with Serbia's new leadership

Dodik also addressed relations with neighbouring Serbia, where the Student List defeated the political movement of former President Aleksandar Vucic in October's parliamentary election.

Despite having openly supported Vucic, Dodik said Republika Srpska would seek to maintain good relations with Serbia's incoming leadership.

“We must maintain good relations with Serbia's authorities until the very last day, while fully respecting the fact that someone new has won,” he said.

“The Serbian people have said that it is now the Student List. When the time comes, we will sit down and see what kind of relationship we will have.”