Transition of power from
Transition of power
Transition of power
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An official from the National Rifle Association (NRA) stated in a letter that President Trump no longer has confidence in the organization. The letter emphasized the need for the NRA 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. This official wrote a letter to other board members expressing the need for the N.R.A. to reorganize in order to support the Republican Party’s advantage in Congress during the 2026 midterm elections.
During a meeting, Bill Bachenberg, the first vice president of the group and a strong supporter of Trump, mentioned to other board members that Trump was disappointed in the NRA for not offering more support during the 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 historically supported Democratic political donations. This conversation took place at the group’s annual conference in May.
In a recent letter signed by Mr. Bachenberg and Mark Vaughan, it was stated that President Trump and his closest advisors no longer trust the N.R.A. They mentioned that they frequently communicate with them and acknowledge the need to regain their trust, as well as the trust of the organization’s members and donors.
When asked for her opinion, Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the Trump-Vance transition, gave a general response. She stated that President Trump supports the idea that every American has a natural right from God to protect themselves and their family. 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 those who support its former leader Wayne LaPierre and those, like Mr. Bachenberg, who want to distance themselves from LaPierre’s controversial reputation.
The new CEO of the N.R.A., Doug Hamlin, explained in a statement that due to the organization’s significant expenses in defending itself against a lawsuit from Letitia James, the Attorney General of New York, they will need to focus their efforts more strategically in the 2024 election.
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