Donald Trump wore an accessory resembling a tiny, cartoon-like version of himself during a White House press conference-style meeting.
Trump, 79, met with oil and gas executives in the East Room on Friday, Jan. 9, when Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy noticed a new lapel pin and briefly interrupted the discussion to ask about it.
The president, who had the pin positioned beneath his usual American flag lapel pin, said it was a gift.
“Someone gave me this,” Trump said, holding it up so the room could see it. “That’s called a ‘happy Trump.’”
He then added, “I’m never happy, I’m never satisfied,” before saying he wouldn’t be satisfied “until we make America great again,” though he claimed the country was “getting pretty close.” Trump repeated that the pin was a “happy Trump,” explaining that he decided to wear it after receiving it.
The pin depicts a cartoon version of Trump with his mouth open, brows furrowed, and fists clenched at his sides.
During the Jan. 9 meeting, Trump sat between Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Another moment from the gathering also drew attention after Trump appeared to put Rubio on the spot by reading a private note aloud.
After Trump called on ConocoPhillips CEO Ryan Lance to speak, Rubio was seen passing him a handwritten note while Vance appeared to glance over, looking puzzled.
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“Marco just gave me a note,” Trump said, as Rubio capped his pen and looked down.
Trump then read the message aloud: “Go back to Chevron. They want to discuss something. Go back to Chevron.”
As Trump spoke, Vance laughed, while Rubio smiled but appeared uncomfortable.
“Go ahead, I’m going back to Chevron,” Trump said, setting the note down and patting Rubio on the back. “Thank you, Marco.”
The meeting came less than a week after Trump said the United States had captured Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in the early hours of Saturday, Jan. 3.
Afterward, Trump told reporters the United States was going to “run” Venezuela.
“No nation in the world could achieve what America achieved, successfully capturing Maduro in the dead of night,” Trump said. “We’re going to get the oil flowing the way it should be… we’re gonna run it properly. We’re gonna make sure the people of Venezuela are taken care of.”
