Trump Shares Sharpie Story During Cabinet Meeting Focused on Iran and Economy
At a Cabinet meeting on Thursday addressing major issues such as the conflict involving Iran, rising oil prices, stock market uncertainty, and long airport security lines, President Donald Trump briefly shifted attention to a different subject: the origin of his well-known Sharpie pens.
During the meeting, Trump held up a black-and-gold Sharpie featuring the White House emblem and described how the marker became a regular part of official ceremonies. His remarks came after senior officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and envoy Steve Witkoff, spoke about military developments, Iran’s nuclear activity, and risks facing U.S. troops.
Trump explained that ceremonial pens previously used at the White House were costly, sometimes priced as high as $1,000 each. Because multiple pens are typically distributed to guests and lawmakers during bill signings, he said the expense added up quickly.
According to Trump, he contacted the manufacturer of Sharpie markers to create a customized version displaying the White House logo. He said the company offered to supply the pens at no charge, but he chose to pay about $5 per marker instead. Standard Sharpies commonly sell for around $1 to $2.
Trump has used Sharpie markers for many years, both as a businessman signing autographs and as president signing executive orders, proclamations, and legislation. His use of the marker became widely recognized during his first term, including during the widely discussed “Sharpiegate” episode involving a hurricane forecast map.
Sharpie’s parent company, Newell Brands, said it did not have details about the conversation Trump described but noted that the markers are frequently used by public officials, artists, and professionals.
After finishing the anecdote, Trump returned the focus of the meeting to economic topics, passing the discussion to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who continued with the planned agenda.
