Transition of power from
Transition of power
Transition of power
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A high-ranking official from the National Rifle Association (N.R.A.) has stated that President Donald Trump has lost confidence in the organization. The official emphasized the need for the N.R.A. to regain trust with Trump and his close advisors, as outlined in a recent letter.
Written by Danny Hakim
A high-ranking official at the National Rifle Association stated that President-elect Donald J. Trump no longer has confidence in the organization. The official expressed in a letter to fellow board members that the N.R.A. must reorganize in order to support the Republican Party’s advantage in Congress during the 2026 midterm elections.
Bill Bachenberg, who is the group’s first vice president and a strong supporter of Trump, informed other board members that Trump was unhappy during this year’s election because the NRA had not promised to do more to assist him in winning. Bachenberg also mentioned that Trump was surprised to learn at the group’s annual conference in May that the NRA was paying millions of dollars each year to a lawyer, William A. Brewer III, who has historically donated more to Democratic candidates.
Mr. Bachenberg stated in a recent letter that President Trump and his closest advisors no longer trust the N.R.A. This sentiment was echoed by Mark Vaughan, the N.R.A. board’s second vice president. They both believe that rebuilding trust with President Trump and his inner circle, as well as with N.R.A. members and donors, will require a significant amount of effort.
When asked for a comment, Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the Trump-Vance transition, provided a general response. She stated that President Trump supports the idea that all Americans have a natural right to defend themselves and their families, and he will support those who follow the law and own guns.
The recent letter indicates that the N.R.A. has lost some of its political power. It used to be a significant lobbying group in Washington, but it has been struggling due to scandals and accusations of corruption. There is now a split within the organization, with some members supporting the former CEO Wayne LaPierre and others, like Mr. Bachenberg, wanting to distance themselves from LaPierre’s controversial past.
The N.R.A.’s new chief executive, Doug Hamlin, stated that due to the organization’s significant spending to defend itself in a civil case brought by New York’s attorney general, Letitia James, they would need to strategically focus on the 2024 election cycle.
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