Trump says he pulled DEA nomination

President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday said he no longer wanted Chad Chronister to lead the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Trump nominated Chronister for the post last week. But after widespread reports that Chronister withdrew his name from consideration, Trump said on Wednesday that he was no longer nominating Chronister because of some things he said to the president-elect's pastors and supporters.

What did Chronister say that got him in trouble? Trump did not specify what was said, but added that he did not appreciate the sentiments. Chronister faced criticism from conservatives in recent days over actions he took as sheriff in Hillsborough County, Fla., during the COVID-19 pandemic. He arrested a megachurch pastor who continued to hold church services in defiance of pandemic restrictions, according to reporting by the National Catholic Reporter. At the time, he characterized the pastor’s arrest as a wakeup call, and said it was shameful that the pastor forced law enforcement to do their jobs, the report said.

Did Trump announce any other nominations? Trump announced several nominations for various offices on Wednesday:

• Gail Slater as assistant attorney general for the Antitrust Division at the Department of Justice

• David Warrington as counsel to the president

• Monica Crowley as assistant secretary of state

• Paul Atkins as chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

• Michael Faulkender as deputy secretary of the U.S. Treasury Department

• Jared Isaacman as NASA administrator

• Adam Boehler as special envoy for hostage affairs

• Daniel Driscoll as secretary of the Army

• Peter Navarro as senior counselor for trade and manufacturing.

Dig deeper: Read Christina Grube’s report about how Trump’s lawyers are asking for the dismissal of charges leveled against him in New York.