Transition of power from
Transition of power
Transition of power
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According to a gun group official, Donald J. Trump no longer trusts the N.R.A. The official stated in a letter that the organization is in need 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. They believe the N.R.A. needs to reorganize in order to support the Republican Party’s advantage in Congress for the 2026 midterm elections.
Bill Bachenberg, the first vice president of the group and a strong supporter of Trump, informed other board members that Trump was disappointed that the NRA had not done more to support him in the recent election. Bachenberg also mentioned that Trump was surprised to learn that the NRA was paying millions of dollars annually to a lawyer, William A. Brewer III, who has historically supported Democratic political candidates with his donations. During a conversation at the group’s annual conference in May, Trump expressed his disbelief at this situation.
In a recent letter co-signed by Mark Vaughan, the N.R.A. board’s second vice president, Mr. Bachenberg stated that President Trump and his closest advisors 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 for a comment, Karoline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for the Trump-Vance transition, gave a general response. She stated that President Trump supports the belief that all Americans have a natural right to defend themselves and their families, and he will support those who own guns legally.
The letter indicates that the N.R.A. has lost some of its political power. It used to be a powerful lobbying group in Washington, but has been struggling due to scandals and accusations of corruption. There is a divide within the group between those who support the former CEO Wayne LaPierre and those, like Mr. Bachenberg, who want to move away from LaPierre’s controversial reputation.
The new CEO of the NRA, 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 strategically in the upcoming 2024 election.
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