President Donald Trump used a White House cabinet meeting to spotlight his favorite pen as an example of cutting government costs, contrasting its low price with a $4 billion Federal Reserve headquarters project he criticized. Speaking on March 26, 2026, Trump argued the new Federal Reserve building could have been completed for $25 million if properly planned.
Trump Uses Pen to Illustrate Cost Savings
During the meeting, Trump showed a customized White House Sharpie, emphasizing its affordability and quality. He explained that previous Oval Office pens, which contained gold and silver, were expensive—costing about $1,000 each—and often handed out to dozens of people during executive signings. Trump said he replaced those pens with cheaper Sharpies to avoid wasting taxpayer money and called the old pens inefficient because they frequently ran out of ink.
Custom Sharpie Details
Trump recounted contacting the Sharpie company to create a pen suitable for official documents without prominent branding. The company agreed to paint the pen black and offered to add gold accents and even a gold rendition of Trump’s signature. He noted this customization allowed him to use the pen confidently for high-value government contracts, such as those involving military aircraft.
Criticism of Federal Reserve Construction Costs
Trump contrasted the modest cost of the pen with the Federal Reserve’s expensive new headquarters, labeling the project a “crazy” expense. He asserted that his approach to cost efficiency, exemplified by switching from ornate pens to a simple Sharpie, could be applied to broader government spending. His comments linked the pen anecdote to broader fiscal critiques of federal agencies’ expenditures.
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