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A vice president of the National Rifle Association (N.R.A.) wrote a letter stating that Donald J. Trump has no confidence in the organization. The group is facing challenges and needs to work on rebuilding trust with Trump and his closest advisors.
Written by Danny Hakim.
A senior official at the National Rifle Association stated that President-elect Donald J. Trump no longer trusts 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 group’s first vice president and a strong supporter of Trump, expressed to other board members that Trump was disappointed with the NRA for not doing enough to support him during this year’s election. Bachenberg also mentioned that Trump was surprised to learn that the NRA was paying a significant amount of money each year to lawyer William A. Brewer III, who has historically supported Democratic candidates through his political donations.
Mr. Bachenberg stated in a recent letter co-signed by Mark Vaughan, the second vice president of the N.R.A., that President Trump and his closest advisors no longer trust the organization. He mentioned that he frequently communicates with them and acknowledges the need to regain their trust, as well as that of the N.R.A.’s members and donors.
When asked for a comment, Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the Trump-Vance transition, responded by stating that President Trump supports the belief that all Americans have a natural right to protect themselves and their loved ones, and he will support gun owners who follow the law.
The recent letter indicates that the N.R.A. has lost some of its power and influence in politics. It used to be a strong lobbying group in Washington, but has struggled with scandals and accusations of corruption in recent years. There is now a divide within the organization between those who support its former leader Wayne LaPierre and another group, led by Mr. Bachenberg, that wants to move away from LaPierre’s controversial reputation.
Doug Hamlin, the recently appointed chief executive of the N.R.A., mentioned in a statement that due to the significant expenses incurred in defending against a civil case initiated by Letitia James, the attorney general of New York, the organization must adopt a focused strategy for the upcoming 2024 election.
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