Impeachment Talk Rekindled After Trump’s Demand for National Artifact.

Impeachment Talk Rekindled After Trump’s Demand for National Artifact.

In the USA

The news as it trends.

Historians and legal experts are sounding alarms over a troubling episode involving the Trump administration’s attempt to gift King Charles III an original sword from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

The sword, a historic artifact tied to Eisenhower’s legacy, is U.S. government property—preserved under federal law for the American public.

According to a report in The New York Times, the request was made during President Trump’s recent state visit to the United Kingdom.

Trump reportedly asked that the sword be handed over as a personal gift to King Charles.

Todd Arrington, the library’s director, refused the request, citing federal law. He offered a replica instead.

Shortly after, Arrington was reportedly forced to resign—despite nearly 30 years of public service. The move has sparked outrage, with some calling it a violation of law and potentially another impeachable offense.

Presidential libraries are governed by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

Their collections are not personal souvenirs for any president or administration.

Legal analysts suggest that attempting to remove or gift such items could constitute misuse of federal property, abuse of power, and coercion of a federal employee.

The sword in question is part of a revered collection, including a Sword of Honor gifted to Eisenhower by the City of London in 1947, an honor saber from the Netherlands, and his West Point officer saber.

A saber is a curved, single-edged ceremonial sword traditionally used by military officers. These artifacts have been housed in Abilene, Kansas, for decades.

According to legal experts, this request was highly unusual.

Items held by NARA are not gifts to be demanded, and any attempt to do so could be considered looting and abuse of power.

See some of the public reaction below, along with visuals of what the sword looks like in the attached footage.

Yetunde B reports for Yeyetunde’s Blog. 

Footage Source: West Point Museum / Facebook.