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An official from the National Rifle Association (N.R.A.) has stated that President Trump no longer has confidence in the organization. The official mentioned in a letter that the N.R.A. must work on regaining 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 has confidence in the organization. The official suggested in a recent letter to other board members that the N.R.A. should reorganize in order to support the Republican Party’s advantage in Congress during the midterm elections in 2026.
Bill Bachenberg, the group’s first vice president and a strong supporter of Trump, informed other board members that Trump was disappointed that the NRA did not do more to support him during the recent election. Bachenberg also mentioned that Trump was surprised to learn that the NRA was paying lawyer William A. Brewer III, who has historically donated to Democratic candidates, millions of dollars annually. This conversation took place at the NRA’s annual conference in May.
Last week, Mr. Bachenberg, along with Mark Vaughan, the second vice president of the N.R.A. board, wrote a letter stating that President Trump and his closest advisors no longer trust the N.R.A. They mentioned that they are in frequent communication with them and acknowledge the need to regain their trust, as well as the trust of their members and donors.
When asked for a comment, Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the Trump-Vance transition team, provided a general response. She stated that President Trump supports the idea that all Americans have a natural right to defend themselves and their loved ones, and he will stand up for gun owners who follow the law.
The letter shows that the N.R.A.’s political power has decreased. 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 split between supporters of its former leader Wayne LaPierre and another group, led by Mr. Bachenberg, that wants to move away from LaPierre’s controversial past.
The new CEO of the N.R.A., Doug Hamlin, mentioned that due to the organization’s significant spending to protect itself in a legal case against Letitia James, New York’s attorney general, they will need to focus their resources strategically in the upcoming 2024 election.
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