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A vice president of the N.R.A. has stated in a recent letter that Donald J. Trump no longer has confidence in the organization. The N.R.A. is facing trust issues and needs to work on rebuilding its relationship with Trump and his close advisors.
Written by Danny Hakim
The top official at the National Rifle Association stated that President-elect Donald J. Trump no longer trusts the organization. They believe the N.R.A. must reorganize in order to support the Republican Party’s advantage in Congress for the 2026 midterm elections.
During a meeting with fellow board members, Bill Bachenberg, the group’s first vice president and a strong supporter of Trump, mentioned that Trump was disappointed that the NRA had not done more to support him in the election. Bachenberg also shared that Trump was surprised to learn that the NRA was paying millions of dollars each year to a lawyer, William A. Brewer III, who has historically supported Democratic political candidates through donations. This conversation took place at the NRA’s annual conference in May.
According to Mr. Bachenberg’s recent letter, President Trump and his closest advisors no longer trust the N.R.A. This sentiment was also echoed by Mark Vaughan, the N.R.A. board’s second vice president. Mr. Bachenberg stated that they need to work on rebuilding trust with the President, as well as with their members and donors.
When questioned 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 the inherent right to defend themselves and their loved ones. He also pledges to support gun owners who abide by the law.
The recent letter indicates that the N.R.A. is no longer as powerful politically as it once was. After facing numerous scandals and allegations of corruption, the organization is now divided between those loyal to former CEO Wayne LaPierre and those, like Mr. Bachenberg, who want to distance themselves from LaPierre’s controversial reputation.
The newly appointed chief executive of the N.R.A., Doug Hamlin, mentioned in a statement that due to the significant expenses incurred in defending against a civil case filed by Letitia James, the attorney general of New York, the group needed to strategically focus on the 2024 election cycle.
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