Eisenhower Library head resigns after struggle with Trump and Melania over sword

A decision by First Lady Melania Trump on a gift for King Charles III contributed to the resignation of the director of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home, reports CBS News.

For their visit to the U.K. weeks ago, the first lady was handed a list of possible gifts by aides to bestow upon the monarch and her choice of a sword from the museum's collection caused a furor with Todd Arrington, a career historian, who balked at giving away the artifact from the collection.

According to the report, “Arrington's departure came after he resisted taking an original Eisenhower sword out of the library's collection,” adding, “Eisenhower possessed several swords, including a Sword of Honor given to him in 1947 by the city of London for his role as allied supreme commander during World War II, an honor saber gifted to him by the Netherlands in 1947, and his West Point officer saber.”

Despite Arrington’s suggestion that a replica could be found to use as a gift, the president’s wife held firm, which reportedly led to his departure.

The report notes, “Ultimately, West Point provided a faux version of Eisenhower's sword from the military academy,” but there was already tension between Arrington and the administration with CBS reporting, “One administration official said Arrington was believed to have spoken critically about the president and the administration.”

You can read more here.