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Trump DEA pick bows out just days after being nominated

Florida Sheriff Chad Chronister said that the "gravity" of the job set in, prompting him to decline Trump's offer

Senior Culture Editor

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Members of the Drug Enforcement Administration raided two homes side-by-side, in an assumed illegal marijuana operation, on January 31, 2019 in Commerce City, Colorado. (RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
Members of the Drug Enforcement Administration raided two homes side-by-side, in an assumed illegal marijuana operation, on January 31, 2019 in Commerce City, Colorado. (RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

On Saturday, Donald Trump tapped Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister to lead the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), an offer that Chronister initially accepted and, shortly after, celebrated with a post to social media, writing, “I am deeply humbled by this opportunity to serve our nation.” But he appears to have changed his mind.

On Tuesday, Chronister issued a new statement announcing that he's decided to decline Trump's offer after the "gravity" of the job set it.

"To have been nominated by President-Elect Donald Trump to serve as Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration is the honor of a lifetime," Chronister wrote in a post to X.  "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. I sincerely appreciate the nomination, outpouring of support by the American people, and look forward to continuing my service as Sheriff of Hillsborough County."

As USA Today highlights in their coverage of Chronister's decision, this is the second Trump administration pick to withdraw, with the first being former Republican U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, who withdrew himself from consideration as  Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Justice amid sexual misconduct claims.

By Kelly McClure

Kelly McClure is Salon's Senior Culture Editor, where she helps further coverage of TV, film, music, books and culture trends from a unique and thoughtful angle. Her work has also appeared in Vulture, Vanity Fair, Vice and many other outlets that don't start with the letter V. She is the author of one sad book called "Something Is Always Happening Somewhere." Follow her on Bluesky: @WolfieVibes

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