WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to replace the head of the National Archives, reigniting political tensions linked to his handling of sensitive documents that resulted in a federal indictment. “We will have a new archivist,” Trump announced during a radio interview with Hugh Hewitt on Monday.

The National Archives became a focal point of controversy after it alerted the Department of Justice to potential mishandling of classified documents by Trump in early 2022. This prompted an investigation that culminated in a dramatic FBI search of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence, making him the first former president to be charged with federal crimes. The current archivist, Colleen Shogan, who was confirmed after a lengthy political battle, was not in position during these events.

Trump's ire towards the agency stems from its actions following his departure from the presidency. When the agency realized that certain documents were unaccounted for, it made repeated requests for their return, which led to the former president being indicted for willful retention of national defense information, among other allegations. Trump maintains he acted innocently, having turned over some documents while allegedly concealing others. (AP News)

The role of the national archivist is politically sensitive; the president can remove the archivist from office, which is what Trump has vowed to do. He frequently uses the term "deep state" to characterize what he sees as a hostile federal bureaucracy, reflecting his broader assault on federal institutions.

Presidents are required by law to submit a vast majority of their records to the National Archives after their terms. After concerns arose about missing documents from Trump's collection, he faced mounting pressure from the agency to comply with the law. Following his indictment by special counsel Jack Smith, legal precedent has upheld that sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted, which may have influenced the decisions made regarding the case post-election. (Time)

The significance of Trump’s remarks continues to send ripples through both political spheres and the public, ensuring the National Archives remains a topic of heated debate well into his potential future presidency. (SCMP)