Trump reveals HE forced Cabinet nominee out in scorched earth attack on the media and critics
Donald Trump revealed in a furious online post that he pulled the plug himself on his recent pick to run the Drug Enforcement Agency – saying he did so over his actions involving COVID lockdowns.
‘I pulled him out,’ Trump wrote after Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister announced his withdrawal.
What Trump didn’t mention is that he had announced Chronister’s nomination just two days before the nomination imploded, which raises the question of why he put the nomination forward in the first place.
Trump’s comments came in an attack on the Wall Street Journal, which included a hint to its powerful owner Rupert Murdoch, even as he continued to stock his administration with people connected to Fox News. The Journal is owned by Dow Jones, a Newscorp subsidiary, and the Fox Corporation is contolled by the Murdoch family.
‘The Wall Street Journal is becoming more and more obnoxious and unreadable,’ Trump began.
‘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,’ Trump inveighed.
‘But, more importantly, what’s my “latest” setback??? I just won the Presidency of the United States! They haven’t written a good story about me in YEARS. Somebody over there ought to look at what they’re doing. The only one worse than them is stupid, China-centric Forbes Magazine!’
Yet another Murdoch publication, the New York Post, cited a source who said ‘Everyone knows President Trump calls the shots. The president heard the concerns about Sheriff Chronister and acted accordingly.’ Another source said it ‘was the president’s forceful hand that led him to remove his name’ two days after putting forward the nomination.
President-elect Donald Trump issued a statement saying it was he who yanked the nomination fo Chad Chronister to run the Drug Enforcement Agency
The stunning withdrawal came with another Trump nominee, Fox News host Pete Hegseth, experiencing great difficulty in the Senate after Trump put forward his name to be Defense Secretary. There are even reports Trump is considering subbing in Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The turmoil and slam on the media came after Trump’s pick to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration has withdrawn from consideration after MAGA outrage.
Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance have made taking on the fentanhyl drug epidemic a major priority.
Chronister, the Sheriff of Hillborough County, Florida, sparked controversy for ordering the arrest of a pastor for holding church services in the height of the COVID pandemic.
MAGA ally Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who was leading the charge to get him to step aside, said he simply ‘lost his mind.’
‘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,’ he stated.
‘Next time politicians lose their ever-lovin minds, he can redeem himself by following the Constitution.’
Conservative Liz Wheeler called him a ‘COVID tyrant’ who ‘abused his power and is unfit to lead the DEA’ and urged him to withdraw.
Another conservative influencer, Mike Cernovich, posted: ‘Arresting a pastor?! This man can’t be near more power.’
In March 2020 during the height of the pandemic, Chronister arrested pastor of The River at Tampa Bay Church Rodney Howard-Browne. The agency said he ‘intentionally and repeatedly hosted church services with hundreds of members in attendance, despite knowing he was in violation of orders set in place by the President, the Governor of Florida, the CDC and the Hillsborough County Emergency Policy Group.’
Chronister confirmed his decision to step aside in a post on X, but didn’t disclose what prompted him to exit from consideration.
The sheriff would have worked closely with another controversial Trump choice, RFK Jr., who was tapped to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.
Chronister became the second Trump pick to pull out of Cabinet consideration, following former Rep. Matt Gaetz who withdrew after a sex scandal started plaguing his confirmation chances.
Chad Chronister, the Sheriff of Hillborough County, Florida was nominated to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration
Gaetz, a unequivocal supporter of Trump, had earned respect from the president-elect despite the salacious allegations that followed him.
In his statement reacting to the decision, Trump said he looked forward to Gaetz’s future career.
‘Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do!’ he wrote.
Trump hasn’t yet commented on Chronister’s sudden resignation.
‘To have been nominated by President-Elect to serve as Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration is the honor of a lifetime,’ Chronister said in a statement on Tuesday.
‘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 went on.
‘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.’
Chronister ordered the arrest of Tampa Bay pastor Rodney Howard-Browne in March 2020.
He had allegedly violated a ‘safer-at-home’ order for the county.
‘We received an anonymous tip that Dr. Rodney Howard-Browne refused a request to temporarily stop holding large gatherings at his church,’ Chronister said during a press event announcing the arrest.
‘And instead, he was encouraging his large congregation to meet at his church.’
Chronister confirmed his decision to step aside in a post on X
He went on to call it a ‘reckless disregard for public safety.’
The pastor ended up endorsing Chronister’s bid for the DEA position in a stunning reversal.
‘All good, the sheriff and I are friends, he has being doing an amazing job in Hillsborough County,’ he said on X after Trump’s decision to nominate him.
‘I believe He and Pam Bondi will do an excellent job of cleaning up the place.’
But it wasn’t enough to save Chronister’s chances at being Senate confirmed.
His shocking exit came only days after his nomination by the president-elect who praised his numerous accolades.
The sheriff would have worked closely with another controversial Trump choice, RFK Jr., who was tapped to lead the Department of Health and Human Services
‘I am pleased to nominate Sheriff Chad Chronister for Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA),’ Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social on November 30.
‘For over 32 years, Sheriff Chad Chronister has served the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and received countless commendations and awards for keeping his community SAFE.’
‘As DEA Administrator, Chad will work with our great Attorney General, Pam Bondi, to secure the Border, stop the flow of Fentanyl, and other Illegal Drugs, across the Southern Border, and SAVE LIVES,’ Trump stated.
Bondi was nominated to fill the position of attorney general after Gaetz’s exit.
She is the former attorney general of Florida and has been on Capitol Hill this week to meet with senators and shore up support for her bid.
