President Donald Trump's claim that he personally negotiated a $5 (approximately £3.95) deal for customised Sharpie markers has been disputed by the brand's manufacturer, Atlanta-based Newell Brands, which said it had no information about the conversation Trump described. The account was reported by The Washington Post, drawing scrutiny to remarks delivered during an official Cabinet meeting on 26 March.
The anecdote came as an aside during a meeting convened to address the ongoing conflict with Iran, record-long security lines at major US airports, rising oil prices, and skittish stock markets, raising questions about the priorities being signalled in a high-level government setting.
