Transition of power from
Transition of power
Transition of power
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An official from the N.R.A. stated in a letter that President Trump no longer has confidence in the organization. The letter emphasized the need for the N.R.A. to regain trust with Trump and his closest advisors.
Written by Danny Hakim
The top official at the National Rifle Association stated that President-elect Donald J. Trump no longer trusts the organization. In a recent letter to fellow board members, the official suggested that the NRA should regroup in order to support 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 that Trump was disappointed that the NRA did not do more to support him during the election. Bachenberg also shared that Trump was surprised to learn that the NRA was paying large sums of money to a lawyer, William A. Brewer III, who has historically donated to Democratic political candidates. This conversation took place at the NRA’s annual conference in May.
Last week, Mr. Bachenberg stated in a letter co-signed by Mark Vaughan, the second vice president of the N.R.A., that President Trump and his close 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 questioned for a response, Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the Trump-Vance transition, gave a general statement. She mentioned that President Trump supports the idea that all Americans have a natural right to protect themselves and their loved ones. He also promises to support gun owners who follow the law.
This letter shows that the N.R.A. has lost some of its political power. 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 now split between supporters of its former leader Wayne LaPierre and another group, led by Mr. Bachenberg, that wants to move away from LaPierre’s controversial past.
The new CEO of the N.R.A., Doug Hamlin, stated that due to the organization spending a lot of money on defending itself in a lawsuit from Letitia James, the Attorney General of New York, they will need to focus their efforts strategically during the 2024 election.
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