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A vice president of the National Rifle Association (N.R.A.) stated in a recent letter that Donald J. Trump has lost confidence in the organization. The letter emphasized the need for the N.R.A. to regain 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 regroup and focus on protecting the Republican Party’s advantage in Congress during the 2026 midterm elections.
During a recent meeting, Bill Bachenberg, the group’s first vice president and a strong supporter of Trump, mentioned to other board members that Trump was disappointed that the N.R.A. had not done more to support him during the election. Bachenberg also shared that Trump was surprised to learn that the N.R.A. was spending millions of dollars each year on a lawyer, William A. Brewer III, who has historically donated more to Democratic political causes.
Last week, Mr. Bachenberg stated that President Trump and his closest advisors no longer trust the N.R.A. This was mentioned in a letter co-signed by Mark Vaughan, the N.R.A. board’s second vice president. Mr. Bachenberg also mentioned that there is a lot of work to be done to regain the trust of the President, his advisors, as well as the members and donors of the organization.
When asked for a response, Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the Trump-Vance transition, gave a general statement. She mentioned 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 follow the law when it comes to owning guns.
The letter indicates that the N.R.A.’s political influence has decreased. The organization, which used to have a strong presence in Washington, has been struggling due to scandals and accusations of corruption. There is a divide within the group between supporters of its former leader Wayne LaPierre and another faction, led by Mr. Bachenberg, that wants to move away from LaPierre’s contentious reputation.
In a statement, Doug Hamlin, the new CEO of the N.R.A., mentioned that due to the organization’s significant spending to protect itself in a lawsuit filed by Letitia James, New York’s attorney general, they will need to focus their efforts strategically in the upcoming 2024 election.
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