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A vice president of the N.R.A. wrote a letter stating that Donald J. Trump has no longer trusts the organization. The letter emphasized the importance of rebuilding trust with Trump and his close advisors.
Written 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 work on regrouping so that the NRA can support the Republican Party’s advantage in Congress during the 2026 midterm elections.
During a meeting with fellow board members, Bill Bachenberg, the group’s first vice president and supporter of Trump, mentioned that Trump was disappointed that the N.R.A. had not provided more support during the election. Bachenberg also shared that Trump was surprised to learn that the N.R.A. was paying large sums of money to lawyer William A. Brewer III, who has historically donated to Democratic candidates. 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 trust the N.R.A. He mentioned that they are in frequent communication and there is a lot of effort needed to regain their trust, as well as that of the organization’s members and donors.
When asked for a response, Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the Trump-Vance transition, provided a general statement. She mentioned that President Trump supports the idea that all Americans have a natural right to defend themselves and their loved ones, and he will stand up for gun owners who follow the law.
The recent letter indicates that the N.R.A.’s political influence has declined significantly. While it used to be a powerful lobbying group in Washington, it has faced setbacks 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 seeks to distance themselves from LaPierre’s controversial past.
Doug Hamlin, the newly appointed chief executive of the N.R.A., mentioned in a statement that due to the organization’s significant spending on defending itself in a civil case filed by Letitia James, the attorney general of New York, they will need to focus their efforts more strategically in the upcoming 2024 election.
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