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According to a gun group official, Donald J. Trump no longer trusts the N.R.A. and believes the organization needs to regain his trust and that of his closest advisors, as stated in a recent letter.
Written by Danny Hakim
A high-ranking official at the National Rifle Association stated that President-elect Donald J. Trump has lost confidence in the organization. The official urged fellow board members in a letter to regroup and ensure the N.R.A. can support the Republican Party’s advantage in Congress during the 2026 midterm elections.
Bill Bachenberg, the group’s first vice president and a strong supporter of Trump, informed other board members that Trump was disappointed that the NRA had not pledged to do more to support his election campaign this year. Bachenberg also mentioned that Trump was surprised to learn that the NRA was paying large sums of money annually to a lawyer, William A. Brewer III, who has historically donated more to Democratic candidates. During a conversation at the group’s annual conference in May, Trump expressed his disbelief at this revelation.
Last week, Mr. Bachenberg stated that President Trump and his closest advisors no longer trust the N.R.A. This was mentioned in a letter co-signed by Mark Vaughan, the N.R.A. board’s second vice president. Mr. Bachenberg mentioned that he frequently communicates with them and acknowledges the need to regain their trust, along with the trust of N.R.A. members and donors.
When requested 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 a natural right to protect themselves and their loved ones, and he will stand up for gun owners who abide by the law.
The recent letter indicates that the N.R.A. has lost some of its political power. It used to be a strong lobbying group in Washington, but has been struggling due to scandals and accusations of corruption. There are now two factions within the organization – one supporting former CEO Wayne LaPierre and another, led by Mr. Bachenberg, who wants to move away from LaPierre’s controversial leadership.
The new CEO of the N.R.A., Doug Hamlin, mentioned in a statement that due to significant expenses incurred in defending against a civil case brought by Letitia James, the attorney general of New York, the organization must be more strategic in its approach to the 2024 election.
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