March 26, 2026, 1:54 p.m. ET
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump is juggling a war in Iran and the partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, but took time during a Cabinet meeting to lavish praise on Sharpie pens.
Trump began the digression reluctantly. He said he didn’t want to give the company too much publicity. But then he went on a jocular ramble about how much better the black markers are for signing official documents than the White House’s standard-issue ballpoint pens.
“This pen is very inexpensive, but it writes well. I like it,” Trump said to laughter. “I don’t want to give them too much publicity, but they do tip me well: Sharpie.”
The stock price of Newell Brands, the parent company of Sharpie, jumped while Trump spoke.
Trump, a notable haggler over building costs, indicated to reporters assembled to hear about war and national security that the pen had a mightier grip on his attention.
The ballpoint pens he was initially provided in the Oval Office came in gold and silver and were “gorgeous,” he said. But Trump said they occasionally wouldn’t write when the eyes of the world were on him, signing legislation or executive orders.
“They didn’t write well. I take it out, and I sign and there’s no ink,” Trump told reporters in the Cabinet room. “I got all you people looking: ‘There must be something wrong with Trump.’”
Another concern for him was the ballpoint pens that Trump said cost $1,000 apiece. Trump said he might hand out 30 or 40 at a signing. Then someone would ask for five more. Children didn’t understand what the big deal was.
“But I’m handing them out to kids who don’t even know what it is. ‘What is this, mommy?’” Trump said. “These kids are getting a pen for $1,000 apiece, and they don’t know what it is.”
Trump remains a Sharpie enthusiast despite weathering criticism during his first term for using one to doctor the map of Hurricane Dorian’s possible path.
Trump said he called the head of Sharpie, who questioned whether he was really talking to the president, to ask about possible alterations.
“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 trillion-dollar airplane contract to buy brand new fighter jets, brand new B-2 bombers, of which we just ordered plenty,’” Trump said.
The company didn’t respond immediately to a request for comment.
The Sharpie executive offered to make a pen in black and paint the White House on it and even his signature in gold. Sold! Trump recited the conversation with the executive, offering to provide the markers for free, but Trump declined and they settled on $5 per pen.
“For $5 – it could be zero – I get a much better pen than $1,000. I can hand them out,” Trump said. “Actually, they’ve become hot as a pistol.”
