A globe linked to 34th U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower was damaged by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s staffers, according to reports. Eisenhower served as supreme commander of the allied forces during World War II.
He has also “known for his affinity and use of large standing globes,” said The Washington Post of Eisenhower in its report on the damaged globe. Citing sources familiar with the matter and including pictures of the damage, the outlet said that Hegseth wanted the globe in his office.
According to The Hill, the Army office in possession of the artifact was “initially expected to consult with experts to make sure it could be safely transported, the newspaper reported,” but that process was derailed during a government shutdown. During that shutdown (the result of Congress disagreeing over President Donald Trump’s immigration policies earlier this year) staffers were furloughed.
When Hegseth’s staff failed to reach the experts, they took matters into their own hands, the Post said.
A source familiar with the situation told The Hill Thursday that the 30-inch globe had been used by Eisenhower and that Hegseth’s team dropped it. Per the Post’s report, the incident resulted in an inches-wide gash near Antarctica. A report from The Guardian noted that the incident apparently occurred in February.
The Army’s press office referred The Hill to Hegseth’s office, said the outlet. Then, a Pentagon official confirmed Thursday that the accident occurred while staff was transporting what The Hill reported to be “the replica of the Eisenhower globe as part of its relocation.”
“Accidents happen, we are grateful no one was harmed, and the globe is being repaired,” the official said in a statement. “It is unsurprising that the Washington Post is once again dedicating time to another inconsequential non-story.”
The Hill added that “the globe was ultimately not relocated,” and that it isn’t clear if Hegseth personally asked for the globe to be moved to his office.
Two globes used by Eisenhower housed at the Pentagon were mentioned in the Post’s report.
“Subsequent generations of Army leaders became custodians of the artifacts, according to people familiar with their lineage and an accompanying plaque dating them to the 1930s,” the Post said of the two globes.
According to The Hill’s, at least one globe linked to Eisenhower has pen lines and markings from World War II on it.
“In recent years, another globe, which is around 40 inches in diameter and stands about 4 feet off the ground and is also connected to Eisenhower, was moved from the Army Center of Military History in Anniston, Ala., which is part of the Army Transformation and Training Command, to an Army base,” The Hill’s report said.
