Eisenhower Library boss exits after King Charles sword gift spat

Todd Arrington allegedly resisted a request from the Trump Administration to give one of Dwight D. Eisenhower’s swords to King Charles. Photo / Getty Images

The Eisenhower Presidential Library’s director has exited his position after advocating against giving a sword from the collection to King Charles as a gift during Donald Trump’s recent state visit to Britain, United States media reported today.

Todd Arrington left his post on Tuesday after being told to “resign – or be fired”, he told CBS News, which did not specify who had relayed the message to the historian.

The library and museum – located in former US President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s hometown in Abilene, Kansas, – is part of the National Archives and Records Administration .

Arrington allegedly resisted a request from the Trump Administration to give one of Eisenhower’s swords to Charles, which was meant to symbolise the US-United Kingdom relationship and highlight the two countries’ collaboration in World War II.

Before becoming President in 1953, Eisenhower led the Allied Forces against Nazi Germany.

The Trump Administration ultimately gave Charles a replica sword donated by West Point, the Army academy where Eisenhower began his military career.

The New York Times reported that Arrington’s ouster may have also been related to discussions over plans to construct a new education centre at the Eisenhower Library.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The resignation of Arrington, who had a decades-long career in the federal Government, comes as Trump asserts unprecedented control over America’s cultural institutions since his return to office in January.

He has conducted mass firings of multiple traditionally non-partisan or bipartisan boards, with his own allies taking control.

-Agence France-Presse