Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister has decided not to move forward with his consideration to lead the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, a role for which he had been selected by President-elect Donald Trump.
Sharing his decision on X (formerly Twitter), Chronister called the nomination an “honor of a lifetime,” acknowledging the gravity of the responsibility while explaining his choice to step back.
“To have been nominated by President-Elect Donald Trump to serve as Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration is the honor of a lifetime,” he stated.
“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 highlighted the ongoing commitments he has to his local community, saying, “There is more work to be done for the citizens of Hillsborough County and a lot of initiatives I am committed to fulfilling.”
Criticism started pouring in soon after Trump’s initial decision to nominate Chronister.
Online personalities like Liz Wheeler and Mike Cernovich expressed strong opposition.
Wheeler criticized Chronister for enforcing policies during the pandemic that she labeled as overreaching, alleging that he money from unvaccinated deputies if they got sick.”
She also noted that he gave taxpayer dollars to vaccinated deputies, which she labeled as “despicable.”
Wheeler begged Trump to withdraw the nomination, adding, “The last thing we need in federal law enforcement is more tyranny.”
Adding to the backlash, Cernovich brought up a past comment where Chronister described himself as “the most Democratic of Republicans,” claiming, “The right’s gone way too far right for me,” and questioning what that means for other moderates within the Republican Party.
Meanwhile, speculation is mounting about other potential changes in Trump’s Cabinet picks, specifically concerning the role of Defense Secretary.
According to the Wall Street Journal, former Fox News contributor Pete Hegseth, Trump’s current choice for the position, is facing serious challenges tied to past allegations.
These include claims of excessive alcohol consumption and sexual misconduct. GOP senators are reportedly growing uneasy about these controversies, and whispers of a replacement are growing louder.
Sources suggest that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis might be under consideration as a potential alternative for the defense role. Trump reportedly has not dismissed the possibility of swapping out Hegseth for DeSantis, though no decisions have been made.
While DeSantis cannot run for governor again once his term concludes in 2027, his inclusion in Trump’s administration might keep him in the GOP spotlight.
For now, Hegseth appears to be rallying Republican support—planning to meet with members of the House Republican Study Committee soon in what many view as a strategic attempt to bolster his confirmation chances.
House members, however, lack direct influence on the Senate’s eventual vote, making this seem more like a calculated public relations move.
Despite growing calls for a revision to his defense pick, Trump’s senior adviser Jason Miller publicly dismissed concerns, stating that the team remained confident in Hegseth’s nomination despite the controversies.
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister is a miniature dictator exerting is power over fellow officers.