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An official from the National Rifle Association (N.R.A.) stated in a recent letter that President Donald J. Trump no longer has confidence in the organization. The vice president of the N.R.A. emphasized the need for the group to regain trust with Trump and his close advisors.
Written by Danny Hakim
A high-ranking official at the National Rifle Association stated that President-elect Donald J. Trump has lost confidence in the organization. The official urged fellow board members in a recent letter to regroup and focus on protecting the Republican Party’s advantage in Congress during the 2026 midterm elections.
Bill Bachenberg, the first vice president of the group and a strong supporter of Trump, mentioned to other board members that Trump was disappointed during the recent election because the N.R.A. did not do enough to support his campaign. Bachenberg also noted that Trump was surprised to learn at the annual conference in May that the N.R.A. was paying a lawyer, William A. Brewer III, millions of dollars a year, despite Brewer’s history of donating to Democratic candidates.
Mr. Bachenberg stated in a letter co-signed by Mark Vaughan, the second vice president of the N.R.A., that President Trump and his closest advisers no longer trust the organization. He mentioned that they are in frequent communication and that there is a lot of work to be done to regain their trust, as well as the trust of members and donors.
When asked for her opinion, Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the Trump-Vance transition, responded with a general statement. She expressed that President Trump supports the idea that all Americans have a natural right to protect themselves and their loved ones. He is committed to standing up for gun owners who follow the law.
The recent letter indicates that the N.R.A.’s political power has decreased. It was once a powerful lobbying group in Washington, but has been struggling due to scandals and accusations of corruption. The organization is currently split between supporters of its former CEO Wayne LaPierre and another faction, led by Mr. Bachenberg, who want to distance themselves from LaPierre’s controversial reputation.
Doug Hamlin, the new CEO of the National Rifle Association (NRA), mentioned in a statement that due to the organization’s significant expenses in defending itself against a lawsuit filed by Letitia James, the Attorney General of New York, they will need to focus their efforts strategically in the upcoming 2024 election.
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