Donald Trump is insisting that Chad Chronister didn’t withdraw as a candidate for head of the Drug Enforcement Agency, but rather that he himself “pulled” the nomination after learning the Hillsborough County sheriff arrested a pastor for violating the COVID lockdown in 2020.

In a social media post, the president-elect said Hillsborough County's top cop didn't pull out, but instead was removed from the confirmation process.

President-elect Trump's pick to run the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Chad Chronister, said Tuesday he's withdrawing his name from consideration for the role. The big picture: Some conservatives criticized the nomination three days ago because of the Tampa-area sheriff's decision to enforce COVID lockdowns during the pandemic.