Trump Shares Sharpie Cost-Saving Tale at Cabinet Meeting

President Donald Trump diverted a Cabinet meeting on Thursday to recount a personal anecdote about customized Sharpie markers, using the story to illustrate his approach to reducing government costs. The discussion took place at the White House amid talks on national security and economic matters, including the ongoing conflict in Iran and rising oil prices.

The tangent arose while Trump criticized the expense of renovating the Federal Reserve's headquarters in Washington, which he said had escalated to around $4 billion. He claimed he could have overseen the project for $25 million with better results. Holding up a black Sharpie from the table, Trump declared, "See this pen right here? This pen is an interesting example." He explained that upon entering office, he found the White House stocked with ornate ballpoint pens costing about $1,000 each, inlaid with gold and silver. These, he said, often ran out of ink during signings and were handed out as mementos to dozens of attendees, including children unaware of their value.

Trump expressed discomfort with the waste, stating, "I feel guilty because I'm like, you know, it's the government. I love the government like I love myself...