Transition from the Trump
Transition of power
Transition of power
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A vice president of the N.R.A. stated in a recent letter that Donald J. Trump no longer has confidence in the organization. The official expressed the need for the N.R.A. to regain the trust of Trump and his close advisors.
Authored by Danny Hakim
A high-ranking official at the National Rifle Association stated that President-elect Donald J. Trump no longer has confidence in the organization. The official urged fellow board members in a recent letter to regroup and support the Republican Party’s advantage in Congress for the midterm elections in 2026.
Bill Bachenberg, the group’s first vice president and a strong supporter of Trump, informed other board members that Trump was disappointed during this year’s election because the NRA had not shown full support for his campaign. Bachenberg also mentioned that Trump was surprised to learn at the group’s annual conference in May that the NRA was paying millions of dollars annually to a lawyer, William A. Brewer III, who has historically donated more to Democratic candidates.
Last week, Mr. Bachenberg stated in a letter co-signed by Mark Vaughan, the N.R.A. board’s second vice president, that President Trump and his closest confidants no longer trust 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 to comment, Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the Trump-Vance transition team, provided a general response. She stated that President Trump believes that all Americans have the inherent right to protect themselves and their families, and he will support those who follow the law when it comes to owning guns.
The recent letter indicates that the N.R.A. has lost some of its political power. 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 its former leader Wayne LaPierre and another faction, led by Mr. Bachenberg, that wants to move away from LaPierre’s controversial reputation.
Doug Hamlin, the newly appointed CEO of the N.R.A., explained 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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