Transition to the new
Transition of power
Transition of power
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According to a gun group official, Trump no longer trusts the N.R.A. The official stated in a recent letter that the organization must work on regaining the trust of Trump and his close advisors.
Authored by Danny Hakim
According to a high-ranking official at the National Rifle Association, President-elect Donald J. Trump no longer trusts the organization. The official expressed in a letter to other board members that the N.R.A. should 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, mentioned to other board members that Trump was disappointed this election year because the NRA didn’t do enough to support his campaign. Bachenberg also noted that during a discussion at the group’s yearly conference in May, Trump was surprised to learn that the NRA was spending millions each year on a lawyer, William A. Brewer III, who has historically donated more to Democratic candidates.
Mr. Bachenberg stated in a letter last week that President Trump and his closest advisors no longer trust the N.R.A. This was also confirmed by Mark Vaughan, the second vice president of the N.R.A. He mentioned that they are in frequent communication with the President and his team, and that they need to work on regaining their trust, just like they need to do with their members and donors.
When asked to comment, Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the Trump-Vance transition, gave a general response. She stated that President Trump believes that all Americans have a natural right to protect themselves and their families, and he will support gun owners who follow the law.
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. There are now two factions within the organization – one that supports former CEO Wayne LaPierre and another that wants to distance themselves from his controversial past.
The newly appointed chief executive of the N.R.A., Doug Hamlin, explained in a statement that due to the organization’s significant expenses in defending itself against a lawsuit filed by Letitia James, New York’s attorney general, they needed to be strategic in their approach to the 2024 election.
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