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An official from the National Rifle Association (N.R.A.) stated in a recent letter that President Donald J. 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.
Authored by Danny Hakim
The President-elect Donald J. Trump no longer trusts the National Rifle Association, as stated by a high-ranking official within the organization. The official expressed in a letter to other board members the need for the N.R.A. to reorganize 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 that the N.R.A. had not done more to assist him in the recent election. Bachenberg also noted that Trump was surprised to learn that the N.R.A. was paying millions of dollars annually to lawyer William A. Brewer III, who has historically donated to Democratic candidates. This discussion took place at the group’s annual conference in May.
Last week, Mr. Bachenberg stated in a letter co-signed by Mark Vaughan that President Trump and his closest advisors no longer trust the N.R.A. He mentioned that he frequently communicates with them and emphasized the importance of rebuilding trust with them, as well as with 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 all Americans have the right to protect themselves and their families, and he will support those who own guns legally.
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. There are now two factions within the group – one supports the former CEO Wayne LaPierre, while the other, led by Mr. Bachenberg, wants to distance themselves from LaPierre’s controversial past.
The newly appointed CEO of the N.R.A., Doug Hamlin, mentioned in a statement that due to the organization’s significant expenses in defending against a civil lawsuit from Letitia James, the attorney general of New York, they needed to focus their efforts more strategically in the upcoming 2024 election.
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