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A vice president of the N.R.A. expressed in a recent letter that Donald J. Trump no longer has confidence in the organization. The official emphasized the importance of the N.R.A. rebuilding trust with Trump and his close advisors.
Written by Danny Hakim
According to a high-ranking official within the National Rifle Association, President-elect Donald J. Trump no longer has confidence in the organization. The official stated in a letter to board members that the N.R.A. must regroup in order 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 displeased during the recent election because the NRA had not promised to provide more support to help him win. Bachenberg also mentioned that Trump was surprised to learn at the annual conference in May that the NRA was paying millions of dollars each year to a lawyer, William A. Brewer III, who has historically donated more to Democratic political candidates.
Last week, Mr. Bachenberg and Mark Vaughan, both members of the N.R.A. board, stated in a letter that President Trump and his closest advisors no longer have confidence in the N.R.A. They mentioned that they frequently communicate with the President and his team and emphasized the need to regain their trust, as well as the trust of N.R.A. members and donors.
In response to a request for a comment, Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the Trump-Vance transition, gave a general statement. She expressed that President Trump supports the belief that all Americans have a natural right to protect themselves and their loved ones, and he will stand up for those who follow the law when it comes to owning guns.
The letter shows that the N.R.A.’s political power has decreased. It used to be a powerful lobbying group in Washington, but it has been struggling due to scandals and accusations of corruption. The organization is split between supporters of its former leader Wayne LaPierre and another faction, led by Mr. Bachenberg, that wants to distance themselves from LaPierre’s controversial actions.
The new CEO of the National Rifle Association, Doug Hamlin, mentioned in a statement that due to the organization’s significant spending to fight a lawsuit from Letitia James, the Attorney General of New York, they will need to focus their efforts in the upcoming 2024 election.
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