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An official from the National Rifle Association (N.R.A.) stated in a letter that President Trump no longer has confidence in the organization. The letter emphasized the need for the N.R.A. to regain trust with Trump and his closest 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 recent letter to board members that the N.R.A. 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 N.R.A. had not done more to support him during the recent election. Bachenberg also shared that Trump was surprised to learn that the N.R.A. was paying a significant amount of money annually to lawyer William A. Brewer III, who has historically supported Democratic political candidates through his donations. This conversation took place at the group’s annual conference in May.
Mr. Bachenberg and Mark Vaughan stated in a letter last week that President Trump and his closest advisors no longer have confidence in the N.R.A. They mentioned that they regularly communicate with them and that there is a lot of effort needed to regain trust from them, as well as from the organization’s members and donors.
When asked for a comment, Karoline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for the Trump-Vance transition, gave a general response. She stated that President Trump supports the idea that all Americans have a natural right to protect themselves and their loved ones, and he will support those who legally own guns.
This letter indicates the N.R.A.’s declining influence in politics. The organization, which was once powerful in lobbying, has been struggling due to scandals and accusations of corruption. There is a split within the group between supporters of former CEO Wayne LaPierre and those, like Mr. Bachenberg, who want to distance themselves from LaPierre’s controversial reputation.
Doug Hamlin, the newly appointed CEO of the N.R.A., mentioned in a statement that due to significant expenses incurred while defending against a lawsuit filed by Letitia James, the Attorney General of New York, the organization will need to focus its resources strategically in the upcoming 2024 election.
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