Kansas officials mum on ousted museum director, sword: ‘Doubt President Trump knew’
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Kansas federal delegation largely silent on ousted museum director
- Former director says he resigned after blocking transfer of original sword
- State Department confirms replica was obtained with Arrington’s consultation
Kansas politicians have had remarkably little to say about the former director of the Dwight D. Eisenhower museum’s claim that he was forced to resign in the weeks after explaining that President Donald Trump could not legally give a sword from the museum’s collection to King Charles III.
In Abilene, the late Kansas statesman’s boyhood home, residents are incensed. But in Washington, members of the state congressional delegation have been silent on the topic.
During a virtual press conference on Tuesday, Sen. Roger Marshall responded to a reporter’s question by saying he had not discussed the sword or former director Todd Arrington with Trump.
“I was not even aware of this story until I read something Sunday about it,” Marshall said. “I don’t know if it was your all’s publication. So I knew nothing of it. I doubt President Trump knew anything about this story either.”
None of Kansas’ other Republican congressional officials — Sen. Jerry Moran, Rep. Tracey Mann, Rep. Derek Schmidt and Rep. Ron Estes — responded to repeated requests for comment over the past week.
Kansas’ only federally elected Democrat, Rep. Sharice Davids, declined to comment.
“Won’t have anything here. Outside of the district,” Davids spokesperson Zac Donley said in a text message.
Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
Museum director helped find replica sword
Arrington, a nearly 30-year government employee, told news outlets that on Sept. 29, he was contacted by a supervisor who said he must resign or be fired, because he “could no longer be trusted with confidential information.”
Arrington said that after he informed Trump administration officials that the Presidential Records Act of 1978 makes it illegal to use artifacts given to presidential libraries as gifts, he helped them procure a replica sword for Trump to give the king on his trip to Great Britain last month.
The original sword requested by administration officials was given to Eisenhower in 1947 by Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands.
In response to a Star inquiry, the State Department confirmed Arrington’s role in obtaining the replica and described the former director as helpful and knowledgeable.
“The saber that was gifted to the King was a replica purchased from West Point. In consultation with Todd Arrington, former Director of the Eisenhower Presidential Library, the Protocol Gift Unit opted to purchase a replica of a sword in the Eisenhower collection rather than removing an object from the collection. Arrington provided several recommendations on how to acquire such a replica. This dialogue was entirely positive, courteous, and successful in identifying and obtaining the gift item,” according to the email statement.
The agency attributed the quote to an unnamed spokesperson and did not respond to a request for clarification.
The White House Press Office did not respond to questions about what, if any, role Trump played in Arrington losing his job, and what the president thought about giving a replica sword to the monarch. In an email, the office referred The Star to the National Archives and Records Administration, which is responsible for overseeing the presidential libraries system.
NARA did not respond to a request for comment.
This story was originally published October 13, 2025 at 5:30 AM.
