Related video: Law enforcement officials react to Trump DEA nominee

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister announced that he is withdrawing from consideration to be Donald Trump’s head of the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The president-elect named Chronister as his nominee for the next DEA administrator Saturday.

“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 wrote on Truth Social. “Congratulations to Chad, his wife Nikki, and two wonderful sons!”

However, Chronister published a statement on social media Tuesday saying that he would not pursue the position, although he called it “the honor of a lifetime.”

“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,” the sheriff said. “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.”

8 On Your Side spoke with Political Analysts and Political Science professors on the sheriff’s decision.

“From what I understand, Donald Trump has not been very careful about the vetting process,” said Professor Alain Sanders. “He’s had some surprises with Matt Gaetz. He’s had some surprises with Mr. Hegseth, who is being nominated for Secretary of Defense. And so really there need there needs to be much more vetting.”

Sanders said part of the vetting process is having thorough conversations with the potential nominee, making sure they want to move forward. It’s not immediately clear if the sheriff spoke with the President-Elect.

Political analyst Tara Newsom suggests there is more at play here.

“There’s deep family connections, there’s this alignment that Florida and the Florida blueprint should be exported to DC. I think that’s at play. But certainly, the discretion is up to the President to make those choices,” said Newsom. “I think it’s actually very telling that this individual is taking themselves out of the running, looking at the depth and the reach of the DEA and really realizing that maybe there’s somebody who, on that scale, can do more good than not. Remember, it’s always a nominee’s job to do no harm to the President, and I think this might be one of those times in which he saw that his better role is to keep Tampa Bay safe rather than try to take on that giant of an agency that the DEA is.”

8 On Your Side requested an interview with the Sheriff Tuesday night, but the department said he was not available.

Chronister makes the second pick by the president-elect to withdraw from a nomination.