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Trump interrupts Cabinet meeting on Iran war and rising prices to talk Sharpies
During a Cabinet meeting, Trump used a $5 custom Sharpie to criticize $1,000 ballpoint pens and federal renovation costs, highlighting government waste and spending control.
- On Thursday, March 26, 2026, President Donald Trump interrupted a Cabinet meeting on the Iran war to showcase a custom $5 Sharpie, contrasting it with the $1,000 ballpoint pens he inherited from the previous administration.
- Trump framed the anecdote as a parable on government waste, claiming his business approach could renovate the Federal Reserve building for $25 million, far below the $4 billion cost he cited.
- Recounting his negotiation with a Sharpie executive, the president asserted the previous ballpoint pens were impractical because "there's no ink in the pen" despite their high cost.
- Newell Brands' stock price rose while Trump spoke, though the company stated it had no information on his conversation; Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent received one of the markers.
- The five-minute monologue diverted attention from discussions on the Iran war, prompting online criticism regarding the president's focus during urgent national security matters.
83 Articles
83 Articles
The Independent
The Independent (US)Trump spends several minutes talking about Sharpies at Cabinet meeting
The president interrupted his Cabinet meeting to describe a phone call about the custom-made pens
Trump Rambles About Sharpie Pens for 5 Straight Minutes During High-Level Cabinet Meeting amid Iran War
While meeting with his Cabinet on March 26 amid the Iran war, President Donald Trump spoke about Sharpie pens for five minutes straight, saying he was sharing a 'business story' and an example of how he has saved taxpayers money.
‘What a Disaster’: Donald Trump Takes a Bizarre Detour During High-Stakes Meeting — Then Cameras Catch the Look on Rubio and Hegseth’s Face That ‘Tells You Everything You Need to Know’
As usual, Donald Trump was supposed to be talking about government business, but somewhere along the way, the conversation drifted into one of his familiar rambling detours. Amid rising gas prices and the escalating war in the Middle East, a routine meeting quickly turned into Trump’s one-man show in Washington. It was almost like he was auditioning for open mic night, as he rambled on about the questionable spending habits happening right under…
NBC Dallas-Fort Worth
Trump interrupts Cabinet meeting on Iran war and rising prices to talk about Sharpies
President Donald Trump may believe the adage that the pen is mightier than the sword — as long as it’s a Sharpie. During a Cabinet meeting Thursday that discussed the war with Iran, record-long security lines at many of the nation’s top airports, rising oil prices and skittish stock markets, the president interjected by holding up a custom-made black and gold Sharpie and offering a long story about how his preferred marker came to be a White Hou…
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