Staff Reports
The ongoing drama surrounding Donald Trump’s nominee for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has taken a rather predictable turn, with Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister deciding to withdraw from consideration. This development surfaced after Chronister lost the backing of the president-elect himself, marking yet another episode in the circus of Trump’s administration that plays out in the political arena.
Chronister, a figure from the Sunshine State, is taking a step back, and though he remains mum on the precise reasons behind his decision, it’s clear that his history of enforcing COVID restrictions has raised more than a few eyebrows. Notably, he had a memorable moment in March 2020 when he arrested a Tampa Bay pastor for holding church services during the lockdowns. One can’t help but wonder if this episode has come back to haunt him faster than a speeding ticket in a school zone.
I call BS over DEA pick. Trump had to save face and couldn’t admit a “setback”. pic.twitter.com/e77yLBRWC0
— 🪴Laurie (@Laurieluvsmolly) December 4, 2024
In his selection of Chronister, Trump had promised a crackdown on illegal drugs like Fentanyl, implying that this sheriff was the man for the job. One might think that enforcing draconian measures against the faithful in church might not be the best look for someone tasked with leading an agency that’s supposed to secure America’s borders and fight the opioid crisis. Yet, in today’s topsy-turvy political climate, this irony seems to have been lost on some.
Conservative heavyweights like Congressman Thomas Massie and commentator Liz Wheeler voiced their objections to Chronister’s nomination based on his heavy-handed COVID enforcement. The backlash from the right seems to suggest that, along with keeping the border secure and addressing drug trafficking, there’s an unspoken understanding that public figures shouldn’t be in the business of snitching on churchgoers during a pandemic. This sort of behavior appears to qualify as disqualifying for many in the conservative base who advocate for personal freedom and responsibility.
As for Trump, he took to Truth Social to clarify that the situation was a product of his own judgment, in true Trump fashion by spinning the narrative to make himself the hero of the tale. He expressed discontent about how Chronister had addressed his pastors and supporters, which is akin to a parent dragging a wayward child back to the car after a tantrum in the candy aisle. His remarks paint a picture of a President unafraid to exert his influence, even if it means he ends up picking another ghost out of his political closet.
Amidst all this, Chronister’s own statement was a jumble of vagueness, avoiding mentioning the pandemic-related arrests that likely contributed to his downfall. It’s a classic case of not reading the room; at a time when conservative values should involve protecting religious liberties, finding oneself on the wrong side of a church door seems to be a deal-breaker. Maybe next time, candidates will think twice before playing the role of a lockdown-heavy enforcer when seeking approval from the President and the base alike.
