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An official from the National Rifle Association (N.R.A.) stated in a letter that President Trump has lost confidence in the organization. The letter emphasized the need for the N.R.A. to regain 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 emphasized in a letter to board members the importance of the NRA regrouping to support the Republican Party’s advantage in Congress during the 2026 midterm elections.
Bill Bachenberg, the initial vice president of the group and a strong supporter of Trump, informed other board members that Trump was disappointed that the NRA had not promised to do more to assist in his election campaign. Bachenberg also mentioned that Trump was surprised to learn at the annual conference in May that the NRA was paying a lawyer, William A. Brewer III, millions of dollars each year, despite his history of donating to Democratic politicians.
Last week, Mr. Bachenberg and Mark Vaughan, the second vice president of the N.R.A., 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 that there is a lot of work to be done to regain their trust, as well as the trust of the organization’s members and donors.
When asked for a response, Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the Trump-Vance transition team, replied in general terms. She stated that President Trump supports the idea that all Americans have the inherent right to defend themselves and their loved ones, and he will advocate 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 strong lobbying group in Washington, but 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, who want to move away from LaPierre’s controversial reputation.
Doug Hamlin, the recently appointed CEO of the National Rifle Association (N.R.A.), mentioned in a statement that due to the organization’s significant expenses in fighting a lawsuit filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James, they would need to focus their efforts strategically in the upcoming 2024 election.
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