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An official from the National Rifle Association (N.R.A.) has stated that President Trump no longer believes in the organization. The letter from the N.R.A. vice president emphasized the importance of rebuilding trust with Trump and his closest advisors.
Authored 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 believes that the NRA must regroup in order to support the Republican Party’s advantage in Congress during the midterm elections in 2026.
During a recent 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. did not do more to support him during the election. Bachenberg also shared that Trump was surprised to learn that the N.R.A. was paying a lawyer, William A. Brewer III, millions of dollars annually, despite his history of donating to Democratic candidates. This conversation took place at the group’s annual conference in May.
Mr. Bachenberg stated in a recent letter, along with N.R.A. board’s second vice president Mark Vaughan, that President Trump and his closest advisors no longer trust the N.R.A. He mentioned that he frequently communicates with them and acknowledges that there is a lot of work to be done to regain their trust, as well as that of the N.R.A.’s members and donors.
When asked for a comment, Karoline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for the Trump-Vance transition, replied by stating that President Trump believes every American has a natural right to protect themselves and their families. She also mentioned that he will support law-abiding gun owners.
The recent letter indicates that the N.R.A.’s political power has decreased. It used to be a significant lobbying group in Washington, but it has faced challenges due to scandals and allegations of corruption. There is now a division within the organization between supporters of the former CEO Wayne LaPierre and another group, led by Mr. Bachenberg, that wants to distance themselves from LaPierre’s controversial past.
The newly appointed CEO of the NRA, Doug Hamlin, mentioned in a statement that due to the organization’s significant expenses 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.
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