Haiti Engages Trump Ally Roger Stone Amid Election Chaos and TPS End

Haiti's government has recently engaged Roger Stone, a long-time political ally of Donald Trump, through his firm Drake Ventures LLC, for a significant one-year lobbying contract worth $780,000, which started on September 2, 2026. This move comes as Haiti faces intense political uncertainty and the formal termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals in the United States, suggesting a desperate bid to influence U.S. policy during a critical period. The agreement aims to provide public affairs counsel and advocate Haiti's interests before the U.S. government, particularly concerning critical immigration policies and the country's ongoing political instability. The timing of this high-profile hiring is crucial, unfolding after the U.S. Supreme Court's June 25, 2026 ruling that allowed the termination of TPS for Haiti, effective July 27, 2026. This decision impacts thousands of Haitian nationals, many of whom have had their Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) expire or extended only briefly, pushing them towards an uncertain future amid a severe humanitarian crisis back home. Meanwhile, Haiti is grappling with widespread gang violence that has crippled its capital, Port-au-Prince, and delayed long-promised elections, with a UN-backed Gang Suppression Force struggling to restore order. As the nation attempts to navigate a complex political transition, including plans for long-delayed elections by year-end 2026 and an interim Transitional Presidential Council whose mandate officially expired in February 2026, the effectiveness of Stone's lobbying efforts remains to be seen. The contract underscores Haiti's urgent need for international support and a pathway to stability, but it also raises questions about the strategic direction amid internal governance challenges and the ongoing struggle to combat powerful criminal groups. Observers will be watching closely to see if this high-stakes lobbying can truly shift Washington's stance or if it's merely a costly political maneuver.