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A vice president of the NRA has stated in a recent letter that Donald Trump no longer trusts the organization. The letter emphasizes the need for the NRA to regain the trust of Trump and his close advisors.
Authored by Danny Hakim
A senior official at the National Rifle Association stated that President-elect Donald J. Trump no longer has confidence in the organization. The official emphasized in a letter to board members that the N.R.A. must regroup in order to support 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, informed other board members that Trump was disappointed that the NRA did not do more to support him during the election. Bachenberg also mentioned that Trump was surprised to learn that the NRA was paying millions of dollars annually to lawyer William A. Brewer III, who has historically supported Democratic political candidates through donations. This conversation took place at the group’s annual conference in May.
Mr. Bachenberg stated in a recent letter, along with N.R.A. board’s second vice president Mark Vaughan, that President Trump and his closest advisors no longer have confidence in the N.R.A. He mentioned that he frequently communicates with them and emphasized the need to regain their trust, as well as that of the organization’s members and donors.
When asked for a comment, Karoline Leavitt, a representative for the transition from Trump to Vance, gave a general response. She stated that President Trump believes that every American has the inherent right to protect themselves and their loved ones, and he will support gun owners who follow the law.
The letter shows that the N.R.A.’s political power has decreased. It used to be a strong lobbying group in Washington, but it has been struggling due to scandals and accusations of corruption. There is now a divide within the group between those loyal to former CEO Wayne LaPierre and another group, led by Mr. Bachenberg, who want to move away from LaPierre’s controversial legacy.
The newly appointed chief executive of the N.R.A., Doug Hamlin, mentioned in a statement that due to the organization spending a significant amount to fight a legal case brought by Letitia James, the attorney general of New York, they needed to focus their efforts strategically in the upcoming 2024 election cycle.
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