Trump’s DEA pick withdraws name citing 'gravity of this very important responsibility'

A Florida sheriff who President-elect Donald Trump picked to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration removed himself from consideration Tuesday, citing “the gravity” of the job he was selected for just three days ago.

Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister made the announcement in a social media post on Tuesday, writing that although the nomination was “the honor of a lifetime,” after thinking it through, he changed his mind about accepting.

“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,” Chronister wrote on X. “There is more work to be done for the citizens of Hillsborough County and a lot of initiatives I am committed to fulfilling. I sincerely appreciate the nomination, outpouring of support by the American people, and look forward to continuing my service as Sheriff of Hillsborough County.”

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Chronister’s selection to run the nation’s premier drug enforcement agency seemed to catch political observers off guard from the start, the New York Times reported.

“While he had a 30-year background in local law enforcement, he had no experience in the geopolitical aspects of the drug war,” according to the Times. “Mr. Trump has arguably made that war more challenging by threatening to impose tariffs on Mexico and China if the countries do not stem the flow of drugs and immigrants into the United States.”

The publication noted that immediately after his nomination, Chronister came under fire from conservative circles troubled by the sheriff’s enforcement of pandemic-era COVID-19 regulations.

“This sheriff ordered the arrest of a pastor for holding services during the COVID panic,” Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) wrote on X after news of Chronister's removal hit. “Glad to see him withdraw from consideration. Next time politicians lose their ever-lovin minds, he can redeem himself by following the Constitution.”

MAGA internet personality Nick Sortor told his social media followers of the withdrawal: “Good move.” He later added: “Not sure how this wasn’t caught during the vetting process.”