Transition of power from
Transition of power
Transition of power
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A vice president of the National Rifle Association (NRA) stated in a recent letter that President Donald 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 has stated that President-elect Donald J. Trump no longer has confidence in the organization. The official expressed in a letter to fellow board members that the NRA must regroup in order to support the Republican Party’s advantage in Congress during the 2026 midterm elections.
During a meeting with fellow board members, Bill Bachenberg, the first vice president of the group and a strong supporter of Trump, mentioned that Trump was disappointed that the NRA did not pledge more support to help him win the election this year. 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 group’s yearly conference in May.
Mr. Bachenberg stated in a letter co-signed by Mark Vaughan, the N.R.A. board’s second vice president, 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 need to regain their trust, as well as that of the organization’s members and donors.
When asked for a response, Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the Trump-Vance transition, gave a general statement. She said that President Trump supports the idea that all Americans have the right to protect themselves and their families, and he will support those who follow the law when it comes to owning guns.
The recent letter shows that the N.R.A.’s political power has decreased. It used to be a powerful lobbying group in Washington, but scandals and corruption accusations have weakened it. There is now a split within the organization between supporters of former CEO Wayne LaPierre and another faction, led by Mr. Bachenberg, that wants to distance itself from LaPierre’s controversial actions.
The newly appointed CEO of the National Rifle Association, Doug Hamlin, stated that due to the organization’s significant spending in defending itself against a lawsuit from New York Attorney General Letitia James, they will need to focus their efforts strategically in the upcoming 2024 election cycle.
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