Trump's Elaborate Sharpie Anecdote Contradicted by Pen Manufacturer
During a recent Cabinet meeting focused on critical national issues, President Donald Trump diverted attention to share a lengthy story about custom-made Sharpie pens. However, the manufacturer of the popular markers has directly contradicted his account, stating they have no record of the conversation he described.
Manufacturer Denies Trump's Version of Events
A spokesperson for Newell Brands, the company that produces Sharpie markers, told The Washington Post that "we don't have any information about the conversation described" by President Trump. The spokesperson emphasized that "we're proud to be a beloved brand trusted by so many globally" but offered no confirmation of the presidential anecdote.
The Independent has reached out to both the White House and Newell Brands for additional comment regarding the discrepancy between the president's story and the company's official position.
Trump's Detailed Pen Narrative
Approximately one hour into the Cabinet meeting, which was addressing pressing matters including military movements toward Iran and disruptions caused by the Department of Homeland Security shutdown, President Trump launched into his Sharpie story.
"This pen is very inexpensive, but it writes well, I like it," Trump declared while holding up a marker. "But I can't have the pen the way it was — you know what it is? I don't want to give too much publicity, but they do treat me well, Sharpie."
The president then complained about the expensive pens he had been using for official signing ceremonies, describing how he would distribute them to attendees.
The $1,000 Pen Problem
"So, I came here, they have $1,000 pens. And you know, you hand pens out, you're signing and you hand them out," Trump explained. "You're handing them to all these people, sometimes you have 30 or 40 people and they were $1,000 a piece."
Trump said he "felt guilty" about the extravagant expense and wanted to find a more economical solution. He also criticized the quality of the expensive pens, describing embarrassing moments when they failed to write during important signings.
The Alleged Phone Call
According to Trump's account, he contacted what he called "the head of Sharpie" to discuss creating custom pens without the company's prominent branding.
"That's when I called the guy. I said, 'I'd like to use your pen, but I can't have a gray thing with a big S on it saying 'Sharpie' as I'm signing a $1 trillion airplane contract to buy brand new fighter jets,'" the president recounted.
Trump claimed the Sharpie representative offered to create special black pens with gold White House decorations and even the presidential signature, all for a fraction of the previous cost.
The Business Deal That Wasn't
The president described what he called a "business story" in which the Sharpie executive allegedly offered to provide the pens for free, but Trump insisted on paying.
"He was shocked — the head of Sharpie gets a call, I don't even know who the hell he is. He said, 'Is this really the president?'" Trump told his Cabinet. "He said, 'No, you don't have to pay me, sir. This is such an honor.' I said, 'Nope, I want to pay you.'"
Trump claimed they settled on approximately five dollars per pen instead of the previous thousand-dollar price, declaring "for $5 I get a much better pen than for $1,000."
Social Media Reaction
Observers on social media platforms expressed bewilderment at the president's detailed pen story during a Cabinet meeting addressing serious national security and governmental operations issues.
Writer Tom Nichols posted simply: "Ohhhhkaaayyy," while another user commented: "Wow. I'm going to be saying 'WTF?' all day long."
The incident highlights how presidential narratives about seemingly mundane matters can sometimes conflict with corporate accounts, even as more pressing governmental business awaits attention.
