Jbelkin
6972
451
1
The director of the presidential library and museum in Abilene, Kansas, said he was suddenly told to resign or be fired. He refused to give the Trump administration a historic sword from the museum’s collection.
The former director of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library in Abilene, Kansas, said on Thursday that he was told to “resign or be fired” from his post after refusing to give the Trump administration a historic sword.
Todd Arrington’s resignation came shortly after Arrington refused to relinquish one of President Eisenhower’s swords from the museum’s collection. President Trump’s administration wanted to give one of the artifacts as a gift to King Charles III on Trump’s most recent state visit to the United Kingdom.
Arrington said his direct superior informed him on Monday evening that he would be asked to resign. The supervisor, who Arrington declined to name, said he was passing down orders from unknown higher-ups.
All Arrington heard is that he “could no longer be trusted with confidential information” due to conduct related to the sword disagreement.
“I was obviously shocked and saddened and heartbroken,” Arrington said in an interview with the Kansas News Service. “I have almost 30 years of government service. I've never had a bad mark against me.”
The National Archives and Records Administration, which operates presidential libraries like Eisenhower’s, replied to a Kansas News Service inquiry with an automated message that said it was closed due to the U.S. government shutdown that began Wednesday.
“They asked for a sword and we said, ‘Well, we do have swords, but we can't give them away because they’re museum artifacts,’” he explained.
Over a dozen presidential museums across the country keep archives of past presidents, including artifacts that, according to the official site of the National Archives, “belong to the American people.”
https://www.kcur.org/politics-elections-and-government/2025-10-02/director-of-eisenhower-library-in-kansas-ousted-after-refusing-to-give-trump-administration-a-sword
dripstone
I would have said fire me and then get paid out or sue for wrongful termination.
SilentScreamsX
I wish someone would give Trump a sword, pointy end first.
Munchman347
He should have given King Chuck a copy of the EPSTEIN/TRUMP FILES, should be one sitting on Pam's desk...
GeneralPrower
Trump had zero intent to give that sword away. It's just another trophy for his palace.
Stumpkiller
I would have made them fire me and then called my attorney.
Ranb40
Does anyone believe that Trump was going to give Ike's sword to an alien instead of keeping it for himself? If someone were to catalog all of the stuff that Trump is likely to have stolen over the decades, it might look like a Nazi hoard.
whywritemythesiswhenihaveinternet
I really don't understand why anyone would resign in these situations. Not only can these people go fuck themselves, but also if you quit, you can't collect unemployment.
bexxMaker
adrianenspired
+10000 for getting fired. GOOD JOB. make a scene. DON'T RESIGN.
rubypilgrim
He still doesn't have any bad marks against him.
karlfrack
I actually raised that guy to hero status as I read the story. He has more heart, brains, and courage than anyone in our government and stood up to the tyrant Drumpf. It cost him his job. Our corrupt government doesn't have anyone in it who will sacrifice their job for the principles they are paid with tax money to uphold. The easy money. Vacations. The insane benefits that noone gets. Healthcare? Better than everyone else gets and paid. FOR LIFE. Pension? Better than you will get. Bet on it.
Dreadfutopia
He fired everyone that might take notes.
merrilywegoalong
Michelle Obama gave Queen Elizabeth an iPod. Very thoughtful
TouchMyInfection
https://media3.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPWE1NzM3M2U1Z3RqNHpnbHNzbmJkN29kbm9pOTJmZ2IyYWUxc2t5NDZxYTAzYWt1NyZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n/MFNxmiBnYTpK2sgn1G/200w.webp
szpet627
RooGryphon
look you cant expect to wield supreme executive power just because you got a former president's sward.
deaconshadow
That miserable asshole Trump thinks he owns the country and its resources.
effisis
Fired tor trying to prevent a sword being looted from a Presidential Library. Perhaps firing the administrator that "was passing down orders from unknown higher-ups" and the "unknown higher up" would be a better course of action.
nfc1016
Well done Mr. Arrington!!! Next time you’re in Cedar Rapids the beers are on me!!!
Stefnos
should have just given Trump the sword... pointy end first >.>
bekindtoanimals
Fuck trump. JFC every fucking day he does something so cruel and ungodly stupid
turtlefarm
Doesn't the cheeto-in-command know what giving a sword to another country's leader usually symbolizes? Oh, right...why even ask. Of course he doesn't.
Bludabeagle
Give a sword....... THROUGH his chest. /s (??)
KommanderKayriel
No, in his rotten, disease-and-drug-ridden mind, Trump thinks giving 'cool stuff' to 'other kings' is a good kingly thing to do. To show that they're equals, and try to get 'cool stuff' off of them. "I gifted you a sword of a previous American King, so give me one of yours that's more valuable." He does not view himself as a public servant, but an autocratic ruler.
PhailRaptor
Never resign in this situation. Force them to fire you. What's the expression? Don't comply in advance?
InDubiousBattle
Agreed. And then don't shut up about it. Let every news outlet know that you were fired for protecting American history.
meganical
I hate getting in trouble for doing my job right but the customer is special and I didn’t treat them like an exception to the rules. It’s infuriating asking a supervisor, “In that exact situation, what SHOULD I have done?” and they don’t have a response that differs from what I did. Trump being president doesn’t mean every past president’s belongings are now his; the audacity of that obese, brain-dead orangutan
KommanderKayriel
He doesn't see himself as a president, the servant of the people, he sees himself as a king. As a king, that means everything and everyone in America is his personal property to do with as he pleases.
ConstantMissclicks
Nah its fine we can just gift the Qatari jet out from under him now
bad1080
more like orangenotan
Darkspire
Yup. Fired for saying no to Dear Leader.
karlfrack
Rookie trumptard shtick. Wait until the mass disappearances and the ovens.
Birdnose
My god trump is such a little bitch
Blakeadelic
This just in: Trump is still a cunt and a pedohlphile.
Blakeadelic
And a traitor to this country.
southflhitnrun
That asshat wanted to give away a PRICELESS piece of American history!!! How is he not in jail for treason? Oh, and business fraud? Oh, and rape of a minor?
Release the Files
RCSpotz
Instead of using his own personal wealth or his grift money to have a new sword made, he would rather steal from someone else and give THAT as a gift.
mondeca
He didn't just steal the sword. He stole that person's livelihood.
badbiscuit
You mean steal from the American people
KommanderKayriel
That's the 'art of the deal', it's also how the rich stay rich. Pay no money that comes from their own pocket. Steal from everyone else to line their pockets to GET rich, steal from everyone else to pay what need spaying to STAY rich. Robber barons.
Daliena06
Art of the Steal, you say?
karlfrack
Add "steal to get even richer" and the formula is complete. The sickness of greed doesn't allow for just ripping everyone off to GET rich.
ElusiveThing
Not exactly a fan of King Charles III, or any royalty really, but guessing he might actually even disapprove of this. This is more about punishing someone who wasn't 100% obedient.
Darkspire
It's reprisal for saying no to Drumf. Plain and simple.
NKato
Not to mention, Eisenhower had a DIRECT ROLE in protecting Britain from the Nazis and by extension, the safety of the King's own goddamn fucking mother.
How Charles doesn't feel repugned by this gift, I will never understand.
Fentex
I'd be pretty certain Charles is revolted by drumpf and upset to be entangled in anyway with his bull and shit, but he'll never show it - he knows what his job is.
azazyel
Trump just wanted to give away the sword? Fuck him and good for this guy.
Gryphonosiris
Should have challenged Donny boy to a sword duel to see if he's worthy of the sword first... no Seconds or substitutes allowed. And sell the rights to Pay per view.
jrntn
The only things Trump will ever give to anyone else are things that don't belong to him
azazyel
IDK, he gave Charlie Sheen some really expensive cufflinks....that turned out to be cheap and fake
jrntn
Even those I am 100% certain he didn't pay for. He either stole them from someone or stiffed whoever he was supposed to have paid for making them
azazyel
The story, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dp6BIDCZRic