Florida Sheriff Chad Chronister withdrew his name from consideration for the top spot in the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on Tuesday following conservative backlash just days after President-elect Donald Trump chose him for the job.
[RELATED: Trump’s DEA Head Pick Bragged on X About Arresting a Pastor Who Held Services During COVID…]
President Trump announced Chronister as his pick for DEA head on Saturday, and though he initially accepted the position, he withdrew himself from consideration just four days later, on Tuesday evening.
“Over the past several days, as the gravity of this very important responsibility set in, I’ve concluded that I must respectfully withdraw from consideration. There is more work to be done for the citizens of Hillsborough County and a lot of initiatives I am committed to fulfilling,” said Chronister, announcing his withdrawal on X
“I sincerely appreciate the nomination, outpouring of support by the American people, and look forward to continuing my service as Sheriff of Hillsborough County,” he added.
Chronister only vaguely addressed his reason for dropping out, suggesting that he is unwilling to give up his work as Sheriff of Florida and that there are initiatives he wants to see through to their conclusion.
He conspicuously failed to acknowledge the significant backlash against him from many conservatives after details of his record as sheriff came to light.
Instead, he celebrated the “outpouring of support” that he allegedly saw from “the American people” in general.
As Sheriff, Chronister became a champion of the draconian government lockdowns imposed during the COVID pandemic, even boasting on social media after arresting a pastor for preaching during lockdowns.
He also established the Sheriff’s Department LGBT liaison program to push the LGBT agenda on the public and support radical transgender ideology for children.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) staunchly opposed Chronister for a position in the upcoming Trump administration and took to X to celebrate his withdrawal from consideration as DEA head.
“This sheriff ordered the arrest of a pastor for holding services during the COVID panic. He was tapped by Trump to head the DEA. Glad to see him withdraw from consideration. Next time politicians lose their ever-lovin minds, he can redeem himself by following the Constitution,” said Rep. Massie.
After Chronister claimed that he made a personal decision to withdraw so he could continue as the Hillsborough County Sheriff, Trump took to social media to dispute his statement.
Trump claimed that Chronister did not drop out of his own accord and that he ousted Chronister after his history of arresting a pastor during COVID lockdowns drew severe backlash.
“The Wall Street Journal is becoming more and more obnoxious and unreadable. Today’s main headline is: “Trump’s DEA Pick Pulls Out In Latest Setback.” With all that’s happening in the World, this is their Number One story of the day. Besides, he didn’t pull out, I pulled him out, because I did not like what he said to my pastors and other supporters,” said Trump.
The president-elect did not immediately name a new pick to serve as the DEA’s chief administrator.
Chronister is not the first of Trump’s cabinet picks to withdraw from consideration.
[RELATED: Trump Picks Former Florida AG Pam Bondi as New Attorney General, Pick after Matt Gaetz Dropped Out…]
Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) withdrew his name from consideration for Attorney General after facing significant backlash.
Rep. Gaetz, however, was supported by many of the Republicans who opposed Chronister and opposed by more establishment Republicans, including U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine).
Trump named the former Florida Attorney General to replace Gaetz just hours after Gaetz withdrew from consideration.
Updated to include Trump’s response to Chronister’s announcement.
Rino,s and Democrats rule
He was a bad pick.
Trump canned the guy, he didn’t just drop out. Advice from Steve Bannon and others alerted Trump this guy was poison.