Chris LaCivita confirms role in DP campaign, distances himself from U.S. government

American political consultant Chris LaCivita has confirmed his role as the official strategist for Albania’s Democratic Party (DP) ahead of the May 11 elections. Speaking on TV Klan’s Opinion, LaCivita said he was contacted by mutual friends in the U.S. Congress and Senate, and that these connections convinced him to take part in the campaign.

Why is this important: LaCivita’s appointment has been one of the most talked about moves of the opposition’s campaign. His presence has sparked debate over how much the DP is paying him, where those funds are coming from, and what his political involvement really represents. While Berisha and the DP have framed his role as a sign of support from the Trump wing of U.S. politics — potentially even a pathway to reversing Berisha’s “non grata” status — that narrative appears increasingly uncertain.

Context: “There was contact made by mutual friends from Congress and the Senate,” LaCivita said. “I understood what the stakes were, and I agreed to be part of this campaign.”

Asked about the financial contract with the DP, LaCivita was guarded: “I know that the contracts were reviewed by my lawyers, the party’s lawyers, and these figures will be made public at a later time. There’s a schedule for when they will be published. I understand that some people want to ask these questions, especially Edi Rama…”

Prime Minister Edi Rama has previously suggested that LaCivita came to Albania just to earn a paycheck and leave. The American strategist responded directly: “Edi Rama says these things because he can’t defend the past 12 years as Prime Minister, during which he has destroyed everything. He has nothing to talk about except his failures.”

On U.S. government affiliation: “I’m a private individual. I don’t work for the government. They are aware. I would never work against the President’s agenda globally. But I don’t need anyone’s permission to do what I’m doing. I’m here for a political viewpoint. My commitment and my skills are here to ensure the Democratic Party wins.”

On Berisha’s ‘non grata’ status: Asked if Berisha’s U.S. designation as a person “non grata” creates problems for him, LaCivita shifted blame to the former U.S. administration:
“First of all, it was the former administration — Antony Blinken. They were so corrupt…They were as corrupt as Edi Rama’s government. In my eyes and in my opinion. These are not issues I discuss in the United States because that’s not my role. One of the reasons I’m here is because that non grata designation was so corrupt it has no legitimacy — at least not in my eyes. I don’t speak on behalf of the United States government. I can’t speak on behalf of the State Department. I’m here to make sure conservatives and the Democratic Party have the opportunity to challenge 12 years of Edi Rama’s failures, and these things will resolve over time.”

What else: While Berisha and his allies have publicly suggested that LaCivita’s presence reflects support from figures close to Donald Trump — and could lead to diplomatic rehabilitation — no formal statement or endorsement has been issued. The claim that LaCivita’s presence might influence the reversal of Berisha’s designation has been met with increasing skepticism, particularly after LaCivita clarified that he is acting solely as a private citizen and not as a representative of any U.S. administration.