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An official from the National Rifle Association (NRA) stated in a letter that President Trump no longer has confidence in the organization. The letter emphasized the need for the NRA to regain trust with Trump and his closest advisors.
Authored by Danny Hakim
A top official at the National Rifle Association stated that President-elect Donald J. Trump no longer has confidence in the organization. The official expressed concern in a letter to fellow 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.
During a meeting, Bill Bachenberg, the first vice president of the group and a strong supporter of Trump, mentioned that Trump was disappointed that the N.R.A. had not done enough to support him during the election. Bachenberg also noted that Trump was surprised to learn that the N.R.A. was paying millions of dollars annually to a lawyer, William A. Brewer III, who has historically donated more to Democratic candidates. This conversation took place at the group’s annual conference in May.
Mr. Bachenberg stated in a recent letter, along with Mark Vaughan, that President Trump and his closest advisors no longer have confidence in the N.R.A. He mentioned that they need to work on rebuilding trust with the President, as well as with their members and donors.
When asked for a response, Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the Trump-Vance transition, provided a general statement. She mentioned that President Trump supports the idea that all Americans have the inherent right to defend themselves and their loved ones, and he will support gun owners who abide by the law.
The recent letter indicates that the N.R.A.’s political influence has decreased. Despite being a powerful lobbying group in Washington in the past, the organization has been struggling due to scandals and corruption accusations. There is now a division within the group between supporters of former CEO Wayne LaPierre and another faction, led by Mr. Bachenberg, that aims to distance themselves from LaPierre’s controversial reputation.
In a statement, Doug Hamlin, the new CEO of the N.R.A., mentioned that due to spending a lot of money on defending itself in a civil case from Letitia James, the attorney general of New York, the organization needed to focus specifically on the 2024 election.
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