Transition of power from
Transition of Power
Transition of power
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A vice president of the National Rifle Association (N.R.A.) wrote a letter stating 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 has stated that President-elect Donald J. Trump no longer has confidence in the organization. The official emphasized in a letter to other board members the importance of the NRA regrouping to support the Republican Party’s advantage in Congress for the 2026 midterm elections.
During a board meeting, Bill Bachenberg, the group’s first vice president and a strong supporter of Trump, mentioned that Trump was disappointed with the NRA for not doing more to support him during the election. Bachenberg also shared that at the group’s annual conference in May, Trump was surprised to learn that the NRA was paying millions of dollars a year to lawyer William A. Brewer III, who has historically supported Democratic political candidates through donations.
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 have confidence in 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 mentioned that President Trump supports the idea that all Americans have a natural right to defend themselves and their loved ones, and he will support gun owners who follow the law.
The recent letter indicates that the N.R.A. has lost some of its political power. It used to be a powerful lobbying group in Washington, but has been struggling due to scandals and accusations of corruption. There is now a split within the organization between those who support former CEO Wayne LaPierre and those, like Mr. Bachenberg, who want to move away from LaPierre’s controversial past.
The newly appointed CEO of the National Rifle Association, Doug Hamlin, mentioned in a statement that due to significant expenses incurred in defending against a lawsuit filed by Letitia James, the Attorney General of New York, the organization will need to focus its efforts strategically in the upcoming 2024 election.
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