Donald Trump's White House enforcer is a self-described "junkyard dog" who has become indispensable in the president's second term.

That's how The Wall Street Journal describes James Blair, the 36-year-old deputy chief of staff whose influence now stretches from Capitol Hill arm-twisting to redistricting warfare — and whose mission is simple: Keep Republicans in line, keep Trump on offense, and keep the House in GOP hands in 2026.

The Journal reported that Blair has emerged as one of the most powerful behind-the-scenes players in Trump's second term, serving as an aggressive loyalty enforcer, political strategist, and messenger on issues ranging from healthcare and the economy to the president's push for new congressional maps.

His fingerprints are so visible on the GOP's redistricting push, some aides jokingly call it "Blairymandering."

During a summer meeting with GOP lawmakers at the White House, Trump reportedly erupted at House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris, R-Md., over concerns about Trump's signature tax-and-spending package, then abruptly stormed out.

After the president left, Harris turned on Blair, accusing him of trying to recruit a primary challenger. Blair's reply was telling: "I just work for the president, sir," the Journal reported — not exactly a denial.

Blair's formal title doesn't reflect his clout.

He was one of a small group of senior officials — alongside the vice president and the secretary of state — featured in a recent Vanity Fair photo shoot, and he described himself there as a "junkyard dog."

OMB Director Russell Vought told the Journal bluntly: "The president relies on him tremendously."

Blair's rise began in the 2024 campaign, when he was brought in by then-campaign manager Susie Wiles, now Trump's chief of staff.

A former Florida operative with ties to Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis' orbit, Blair helped spearhead attacks on DeSantis during the GOP primary, often using insider knowledge from his time working in Tallahassee.

After the July 2024 assassination attempt on Trump, former aides recalled Blair sometimes came to work with a bulletproof vest and gun.

At first, Trump wasn't sold. He reportedly called Blair a "stiff." But that changed after the election — and now Trump speaks with him regularly, according to Journal reporting.

Inside Washington, Blair is viewed as intense, profane, always on the phone, and deeply data-driven.

Some call him "the Oracle" because of his obsession with numbers and polling. His sentences often begin: "The president wants ... "

That blunt, top-down approach has irritated some members of Congress.

Republicans have privately complained that the White House treats Congress like an extension of Trump's political operation, rather than a coequal branch.

Conservative radio host Erick Erickson told the Journal "there is not a lot of deference" — more of a "get on board" mentality.

But Blair's supporters argue that's exactly what Republicans need in an era when the left wages war through bureaucracies, courts, and media narratives — and when party discipline is the difference between passing Trump's agenda or collapsing into internal chaos.

Blair has also turned his focus to the midterms, delivering detailed strategy briefings — including a PowerPoint presentation at Camp David — and personally interviewing candidates for dozens of races, with a heavy emphasis on loyalty to Trump and support for his agenda.

The Journal reported Blair has warned internally that Republicans could pay a political price if they don't directly address economic anxiety and healthcare costs — advice echoed in a recent Politico interview in which Blair said Trump will refocus messaging on affordability after Democrats' off-year wins centered on cost-of-living issues.

Even as he plays bad cop, Blair has shown he understands the stakes: Voters are angry about prices, skeptical of Washington, and ready to punish a party that looks distracted.