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Transition of power
Transition of power
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A vice president of the NRA wrote a letter stating that Donald J. Trump has lost confidence in the organization. The letter emphasized the need for the NRA to regain trust with Trump and his close advisers.
Written by Danny Hakim
The National Rifle Association’s top official claimed that President-elect Donald J. Trump has lost confidence in the organization. The official expressed in a letter to board members that the NRA must regroup to ensure it can support the Republican Party’s advantage in Congress during the 2026 midterm elections.
Bill Bachenberg, the group’s first vice president and a strong supporter of Trump, informed other board members that Trump was upset during this year’s election because the NRA had not promised to do more to support his campaign. Bachenberg also mentioned that Trump was surprised during a conversation at the group’s annual conference in May that the NRA was paying millions of dollars annually to a lawyer, William A. Brewer III, who has historically donated more to Democratic political candidates.
Mr. Bachenberg stated in a recent letter, co-signed by Mark Vaughan, that President Trump and his closest advisors no longer have confidence in the N.R.A. He mentioned that he frequently communicates with them and they need to work hard to regain their trust, as they do with their members and donors.
When questioned for a comment, Karoline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for the Trump-Vance transition, responded by stating that President Trump believes in the inherent right of every American to protect themselves and their families. She added that he is committed to defending gun owners who abide by the law.
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 corruption accusations. There is a division within the group, with some members supporting former CEO Wayne LaPierre and others, like Mr. Bachenberg, wanting to move away from LaPierre’s controversial reputation.
Doug Hamlin, the newly appointed chief executive of the NRA, stated that due to significant expenses incurred in defending against a civil lawsuit filed by Letitia James, the Attorney General of New York, the organization will need to strategically focus its efforts in the upcoming 2024 election.
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