Transitioning to a
Transition of power
Trump Transition
Prom
Backed by
According to a gun group official, Donald J. Trump has lost confidence in the N.R.A. The official stated in a recent letter that the organization is in need of rebuilding trust with Trump and his close advisors.
Written by Danny Hakim
The National Rifle Association’s top official stated in a letter to board members that President-elect Donald J. Trump no longer has confidence in the organization. They emphasized the need for the N.R.A. to come together and support the Republican Party in maintaining their majority in Congress during the 2026 midterm elections.
Bill Bachenberg, the group’s initial vice president and a strong supporter of Trump, informed other board members that Trump was disappointed that the NRA did not provide more support during the recent election. Bachenberg also mentioned that Trump was surprised to learn that the NRA was paying millions of dollars annually to lawyer William A. Brewer III, who has previously donated more to Democratic causes.
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 closest advisors no longer trust the organization. He mentioned that he frequently communicates with them and emphasized the need to regain their trust, as well as that of the N.R.A.’s members and donors.
When asked for a response, Karoline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for the transition between Trump and Vance, gave a general statement. She mentioned that President Trump supports the belief that all Americans have the inherent right to protect themselves and their families, and he will support gun owners who follow the law.
The letter shows that the N.R.A. has lost some of its political power. It used to be one of the most important lobbying groups in Washington, but it has been struggling due to scandals and accusations of corruption. There is a divide within the group between those who support the former leader, Wayne LaPierre, and those, like Mr. Bachenberg, who want to move away from LaPierre’s controversial reputation.
According to a statement from Doug Hamlin, the newly appointed CEO of the N.R.A., the organization had to adopt a focused strategy for the 2024 election cycle due to the significant financial resources spent on defending itself against a lawsuit filed by Letitia James, New York’s attorney general.
We are experiencing difficulties in accessing the content of the article.
To use all the features of this website, make sure to
We appreciate your understanding as we confirm your access. If you are currently using Reader mode, please log out and sign into your Times account, or consider subscribing to access all of The Times content.
We appreciate your understanding as we confirm your access.
Are you currently a member? Please sign in.
Interested in accessing all of The Times’ content? Subscribe now.
Prom
Index of Pages
Navigation for Site Information
