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An official from the National Rifle Association (N.R.A.) stated in a recent letter that President Trump no longer has confidence in the organization. The N.R.A. vice president emphasized the need for the group 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 trusts the organization. The official emphasized in a letter to other board members that the N.R.A. must rebuild in order to support the Republican Party’s advantage in Congress during the 2026 midterm elections.
During a meeting with board members, Bill Bachenberg, the first vice president of the group and a strong supporter of Trump, mentioned that Trump was unhappy with the NRA for not providing more support during the election. Bachenberg also shared that Trump was surprised to learn that the NRA was paying a lawyer, William A. Brewer III, millions of dollars annually, despite his history of supporting Democratic politicians through donations. This conversation took place at the group’s annual conference in May.
Last week, Mr. Bachenberg and Mark Vaughan, the second vice president of the N.R.A. board, co-signed a letter stating that President Trump and his closest advisors no longer have confidence in the N.R.A. They mentioned that they frequently communicate with them 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 believes that all Americans have a natural right to defend themselves and their loved ones, and he will support gun owners who follow the law.
The recent letter indicates that the N.R.A. has lost some of its power in politics. In the past, it was a strong lobbying group in Washington, but it has faced scandals and accusations of corruption in recent years. 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 recently appointed CEO of the N.R.A., stated that due to the organization’s significant expenses in defending against a lawsuit from Letitia James, the attorney general of New York, they need to focus their efforts strategically during the upcoming 2024 election.
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