The director of the Eisenhower presidential library is asking to regain his position following instructions to resign or face termination after refusing a request from the Trump administration to present a gift.King Charlesone of the initial swords belonging to President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Todd Arrington, the head of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, was informed on Monday that he is being removed from his role, which he has occupied for just over a year—following almost 30 years of service in the military and government.
I'm extremely sad and upset, and honestly heartbroken, and I've attempted to contact senior officials at the National Archives to essentially say, I'll do whatever it takes to undo this," Arrington said in a phone interview with the Daily Mail on Thursday. "I will personally apologize to anyone who needs to hear it.
Arrington mentioned that he had been contacted by the State Department's foreign gifts office prior to the President.Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trumphis extraordinary second state visit to the United Kingdomroyal family last month.
In the first discussion, the State Department representative informed Arrington that they were seeking a 'sword or similar item' as a present for King Charles.
During World War II, Eisenhower served as the Supreme Commander of the Allied forces, and an Eisenhower-themed gift would celebrate the strong relationship between the U.S. and the U.K.
"The person I spoke with there was wonderful, courteous, and friendly, and completely understanding when I said, 'I can't provide you with an artifact from our museum, but I can assist you in finding something else,' " Arrington said.
Trump ultimately gave Charles a replica of Eisenhower's official West Point saber.
The East Wing stated to the Daily Mail that it was the president, rather than the first lady, who decided what would be presented to the King.
In most instances, the first lady chooses these presents and did so for Queen Camilla, Prince William, and Princess Kate during their visit to the U.K. last month.
For Camilla, the first lady selected a Tiffany & Co. brooch that included both of their birthstones.
On the day the presents were handed out, Arrington mentioned he received a call from one of his higher-ups at the National Archives, which is responsible for the presidential library network.
"She sent me a message that simply said, 'Hey, the sword has been transferred from the president to the king. All is well, and thanks for all your assistance on this,' " Arrington remembered, refusing to reveal the name of the National Archives official.
Arrington departed from the situation believing it was "a really interesting, impressive, and enjoyable activity to participate in."
On Monday, he learned that his position had been eliminated and that he was labeled as a source of confidential information.
He stated that the mandatory resignation had ended, "discussing with coworkers regarding the demand for a sword."
"And being informed that I was no longer deemed trustworthy with sensitive data," he added.
"It was never made clear to me that any part of the sword discussion was secret until afterward," Arrington stated.
He mentioned that he had only spoken about the sword with colleagues from the National Archives and never with the media — a situation that has led to other officials being removed by Trump administration members in the past.
CBS News first reportedArrington's departure, linked to the library director's refusal to provide the sword as a present.
According to sources who spoke with CBS News, certain members of the Trump administration expressed dissatisfaction with Arrington, and an official from the administration stated that Arrington was thought to have made unfavorable comments about the president and his team.
Arrington refuted allegations of criticizing the government in his conversation with the Daily Mail.
"I have never been accused of, reprimanded for, or even spoken to about keeping my political views to myself," he stated.
White House representatives, State Department officials, National Archives personnel, and the Eisenhower Presidential Library remained silent in response to the Daily Mail's inquiries — as the government shutdown affected media activities across the federal sector.
Read more- Which unexpected object did Trump choose to take out of the Oval Office, even though it was linked to a trusted associate?
- What motivated Trump's unexpected choice to dismiss Deborah Rutter, the long-serving president of the Kennedy Center, as part of his extensive changes?
- What was the reason behind Trump's decision to take down the Martin Luther King bust and bring back Churchill in the Oval Office while he was in office?
- Why did Donald Trump remove Kim Sajet, the director of the National Portrait Gallery, due to her support for DEI initiatives?
- Did the daring reorganization of the Kennedy Center by President Trump lead to a mass departure of celebrities from the formerly esteemed board?
Posting Komentar