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A high-ranking official from the National Rifle Association (N.R.A.) has stated that President Trump no longer has confidence in the organization. The official emphasized in a recent letter that the N.R.A. must work to regain the trust of Trump and his close advisors.
Authored by Danny Hakim
A top official at the National Rifle Association stated that President-elect Donald J. Trump has no longer trust in the organization. The official emphasized in a letter to board members the importance of the NRA regrouping 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, informed other board members that Trump was disappointed with the NRA for not doing more to support his campaign during this year’s election. Bachenberg also mentioned that Trump was surprised to learn that the NRA was paying a lawyer, William A. Brewer III, millions of dollars annually, despite Brewer’s history of donating to Democratic candidates. The conversation took place at the group’s annual conference in May.
Last week, Mr. Bachenberg, along with N.R.A. board’s second vice president Mark Vaughan, stated that President Trump and his closest advisors no longer have confidence in the N.R.A. They mentioned that they are in regular communication with them and acknowledge the need to regain their trust, as well as that of their members and donors.
When asked for a comment, Karoline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for the transition team of Trump and Vance, gave a generalized response. She stated that President Trump supports the idea that all Americans have the right to protect themselves and their families, and he will stand up for those who own guns legally.
The recent letter shows that the N.R.A.’s political power has decreased. It used to be a strong lobbying group in Washington, but has been struggling due to scandals and accusations of corruption. The organization is now split between supporters of former CEO Wayne LaPierre and another faction, led by Mr. Bachenberg, that seeks to distance itself from LaPierre’s controversial past.
The new CEO of the National Rifle Association, Doug Hamlin, mentioned in a statement that due to the organization’s significant spending on defending itself in a lawsuit filed by Letitia James, the Attorney General of New York, they will need to focus their efforts on specific areas during the 2024 election cycle.
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