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A vice president of the National Rifle Association (N.R.A.) expressed in a recent letter that President Donald J. Trump has lost confidence in the organization. The official stated that the N.R.A. must work to regain trust with Trump and his close advisors.
Written by Danny Hakim
The President-elect, Donald J. Trump, has reportedly lost confidence in the National Rifle Association, as stated by a high-ranking official within the organization. The official believes that the NRA needs to reorganize in order to support the Republican Party’s advantage in Congress during the 2026 midterm elections.
Bill Bachenberg, the group’s initial vice president and a strong supporter of Trump, informed other board members that Trump was disappointed during the recent election that the NRA had not shown more support for his campaign. Additionally, Bachenberg mentioned that Trump was surprised to learn at the NRA’s annual conference in May that the organization was paying millions of dollars annually to lawyer William A. Brewer III, who has historically donated more to Democratic causes.
Last week, Mr. Bachenberg, along with Mark Vaughan, the N.R.A. board’s second vice president, wrote a letter stating that President Trump and his closest advisors no longer trust the N.R.A. He mentioned that they are in regular communication with the President and his team and acknowledge the need to regain their trust, as well as that of the organization’s members and donors.
When questioned for her opinion, Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the Trump-Vance transition, gave a general response stating that President Trump supports the idea that all Americans have the right to protect themselves and their families, and he will stand up for gun owners who follow the law.
The letter indicates that the N.R.A.’s political power has decreased. It used to be a powerful lobbying group in Washington, but has faced scandals and accusations of corruption in recent years. There is now a divide within the group between those loyal to former CEO Wayne LaPierre and others, like Mr. Bachenberg, who want to move away from LaPierre’s controversial reputation.
According to Doug Hamlin, the newly appointed CEO of the N.R.A., the organization had to focus its efforts on specific areas in the upcoming 2024 election due to the significant financial resources spent on defending itself in a civil case brought by Letitia James, the attorney general of New York.
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