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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 letter emphasized the need for the N.R.A. to regain trust with Trump and his closest advisors.
Written by Danny Hakim
According to a high-ranking official at the National Rifle Association, President-elect Donald J. Trump no longer has confidence in the organization. The official stated in a recent letter to board members that the N.R.A. must come together and regroup in order to support the Republican Party’s advantage in Congress during the midterm elections in 2026.
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 with the NRA for not doing more to support him during the recent 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 donating to Democratic candidates. This conversation took place at the NRA’s annual conference in May.
In a recent letter, Mr. Bachenberg and Mark Vaughan, the second vice president of the N.R.A. board, stated 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 acknowledged the need to rebuild trust with the President, as well as with the organization’s members and donors.
When asked for a comment, Karoline Leavitt, who represents 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 support those who obey the law and own guns.
The recent letter shows that the N.R.A.’s political power has decreased. It used to be a strong lobbying group in Washington, but it has been struggling due to scandals and accusations of corruption. The organization is split between supporters of its former CEO Wayne LaPierre and another faction, led by Mr. Bachenberg, that wants to move away from LaPierre’s controversial leadership.
The new CEO of the National Rifle Association, Doug Hamlin, stated that due to the organization’s significant spending in a legal case against New York Attorney General Letitia James, they will need to focus their efforts strategically in the upcoming 2024 election.
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