Transition of power from
Transition of power
Transition of Power
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A vice president of the NRA stated in a letter that Donald J. Trump has lost confidence in the organization and they need to work on rebuilding trust with him and his close advisors.
Authored by Danny Hakim
A high-ranking official at the National Rifle Association has stated that President-elect Donald J. Trump no longer has confidence in the organization. The official suggested in a letter to board members that the N.R.A. should reorganize in order to support the Republican Party’s advantage in Congress during the 2026 midterm elections.
At a recent board meeting, Bill Bachenberg, the group’s first vice president and a strong supporter of Trump, mentioned that Trump was disappointed that the NRA had not done more to support him during the election. Bachenberg also shared that Trump was surprised to learn that the NRA was paying millions of dollars annually to lawyer William A. Brewer III, who has historically donated to Democratic candidates. This conversation took place at the NRA’s annual conference in May.
Mr. Bachenberg stated in a recent letter that President Trump and his closest advisors no longer trust the N.R.A. This sentiment was also shared by Mark Vaughan, the second vice president of the N.R.A. They acknowledged the need to regain trust with the President and his circle, as well as with the organization’s members and donors.
When asked for a comment, Karoline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for the Trump-Vance transition, replied with a general statement. She expressed that President Trump supports the idea that all Americans have a natural right to protect themselves and their loved ones, and he will stand up for gun owners who follow the law.
This letter shows that the N.R.A.’s political power has decreased. The organization used to be a strong lobbying force in Washington, but has been struggling due to scandals and corruption accusations. There is a division within the group between supporters of former CEO Wayne LaPierre and another group, led by Mr. Bachenberg, who want to distance themselves from LaPierre’s controversial past.
Doug Hamlin, the newly appointed CEO of the N.R.A., stated that due to the organization investing a significant amount of money to protect itself in a legal case brought by Letitia James, the attorney general of New York, they will need to focus their efforts strategically for the upcoming 2024 election.
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