The director of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library in Kansas has resigned following a dispute with the Trump administration over a request to hand over a historic sword from the library’s collection as a gift to King Charles.
Todd Arrington stepped down on Monday, telling CBS News he was given an ultimatum to “resign or be fired” after refusing to release an original Eisenhower-era sword to be presented during Donald Trump’s state visit to the United Kingdom last month.
The White House and State Department officials had reportedly sought to emphasize post-World War II ties between the U.S. and the U.K. by presenting King Charles with one of Eisenhower’s swords.
Arrington, however, argued that the artifact was part of the library’s permanent collection and could not be handed over.
Instead, Trump and First Lady Melania presented the monarch with a replica sword at Windsor Castle in September, along with a Tiffany & Co. vintage gold and jewel-encrusted brooch for the Queen.
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Speaking to CBS, Arrington denied accusations that he had criticized the Trump administration, insisting his concerns were strictly about protecting historical property. “I never said a bad word about anybody,” he said. “I simply tried to find an appropriate alternative gift.”
The Eisenhower library, part of the National Archives system, houses several swords linked to the former president and World War II commander.
Arrington, who took up his post in August 2024, said he was devastated by how the dispute ended.
“I’d return to this job in a heartbeat,” he said. “I love the people, I love the history. I never in a million years wanted this to happen.”
Neither the White House nor the National Archives has publicly commented on the matter.