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A high-ranking official from the National Rifle Association (N.R.A.) has stated that President Trump no longer believes in the organization. The official emphasized the need for the N.R.A. to regain the trust of Trump and his close advisors in a recent letter.
Written by Danny Hakim
A senior official at the National Rifle Association stated in a letter to board members that President-elect Donald J. Trump no longer has confidence in the organization. The official expressed the need for the N.R.A. to regroup in order to support the Republican Party’s advantage in Congress during the 2026 midterm elections.
During a meeting with fellow board members, Bill Bachenberg, the group’s first vice president and a strong supporter of Trump, mentioned 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 paying a lawyer, William A. Brewer III, millions of dollars annually, despite Brewer’s past donations favoring Democrats. This conversation took place at the N.R.A.’s annual conference in May.
Mr. Bachenberg stated in a letter co-signed by Mark Vaughan, the N.R.A. board’s second vice president, that President Trump and his closest advisors no longer have confidence in the N.R.A. He mentioned that they are in frequent communication and that there is a lot of effort needed to regain their trust, as well as the trust of members and donors.
When asked for a comment, Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson 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 protect themselves and their loved ones, and he will stand up for 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. The organization is now split between supporters of its former leader Wayne LaPierre and a faction, led by Mr. Bachenberg, that wants to move away from LaPierre’s controversial past.
Doug Hamlin, the newly appointed CEO of the N.R.A, stated that due to the organization’s significant spending in defending itself against a lawsuit from Letitia James, the Attorney General of New York, they will need to focus their resources strategically in the upcoming 2024 election.
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