The key facts
- Hegseth asked for the globe associated with Eisenhower to be brought to him; according to The Washington Post, untrained staff dropped it.
- The area near Antarctica was damaged; such items are normally moved by trained curators.
- The Pentagon confirmed an 'accident,' but called the artifact a 'replica' and the report an 'inconsequential non-story.'
Incident with a Historic Globe at the Pentagon
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth ordered aides to bring him a globe associated with the legendary World War II general Dwight Eisenhower — and they dropped it, The Washington Post reported on Thursday. According to the newspaper, the large sphere fell while being carried by untrained staff, causing a large section of the world near Antarctica to break off.
Who Should Handle Artifacts
As The Washington Post writes, historical items at the Pentagon are normally moved by trained curators, but Hegseth's office sent its own team. An official Pentagon spokesperson told AFP that an 'accident' had occurred. At the same time, the statement described the artifact as a 'replica of the Eisenhower globe' and the newspaper's report as an 'inconsequential non-story.'
Authentication and Context
Photographs published by the Post showed a hole in the Antarctica region and a plaque indicating that this is one of two nearly identical historic 'Eisenhower globes' in the Pentagon's possession.
Hegseth's Image Policy
President Donald Trump's defense secretary is focused on promoting a 'muscular' image of the American military, starting with an attempt to restore the name 'Department of War,' which was changed to 'Department of Defense' in 1947. Hegseth, who rose to the rank of major in the US Army National Guard and then became a Fox News host, regularly holds televised workouts with troops and ordered mandatory testosterone testing for male service members over 30. He also oversees the eight-month war against Iran, which Trump has repeatedly promised to finish quickly.
Who Was Eisenhower
Eisenhower led US military efforts against Nazi Germany, commanding the Normandy landings, which opened a phase of the conflict that led to Adolf Hitler's defeat. The five-star general was elected president in 1952 and led the White House at the height of the Cold War; he was often photographed alongside ornate globes.
