Donald Trump‘s pick to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration has withdrawn from consideration after MAGA outrage.

Chad 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.

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.

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.’

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. 

‘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.