Pete Hegseth, head of the Pentagon, aimed to enhance his office’s decor with a large globe that once belonged to Dwight Eisenhower, the 34th President of the United States. However, during a rushed relocation, the globe was damaged, as reported by The Washington Post.
This globe, which Eisenhower is said to have used during World War II, has been a fixture at the Department of Defense for many years, cared for by generations of senior officials, according to reports from The Washington Post cited by France Presse and News.ro.
In February, the Pentagon’s office sent its own team to move the 70-centimeter-diameter globe, despite historical objects at the Pentagon typically being handled by qualified personnel. Sources indicated that Hegseth displayed a “clear lack of patience.” During the transport, untrained staff dropped the globe, resulting in a significant crack and the loss of a portion of ocean near Antarctica. A photograph published by the newspaper shows a noticeable hole.
Another image shows small fragments scattered on the navy blue carpet of the Pentagon beneath the globe, which is mounted on an imposing wooden structure.
Contacted by AFP, the Pentagon confirmed that an “accident” had indeed occurred but clarified that it involved a “replica of Eisenhower’s globe” and dismissed the Washington Post article as “insignificant.”
Pete Hegseth is known for promoting a vigorous and militaristic image of the Pentagon, which was rebranded as the “Department of War” by the Trump administration. A former National Guard member and Fox News presenter, he frequently appears in videos, often filmed alongside soldiers during physical training sessions, dressed in tight-fitting shirts and styled hair.
In July, he announced that the military would measure the testosterone levels of its soldiers to identify potential deficiencies and propose appropriate treatment.
Dwight Eisenhower, the American general who commanded Allied expeditionary forces against Nazi Germany, served as the President from 1953 to 1961. He was well-known for his passion for globes, which he often used to formulate military strategies.
