WASHINGTON -- One of the more awkward yet light-hearted moments of Inauguration Day came shortly after President Donald Trump took the oath of office.
He began distributing the pens he used to sign off on each of his Cabinet nominees to the senior lawmakers assembled to watch him take his first official actions as president.
Trump handed the first pen he used to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. Once the California Democrat realized it was the same writing utensil deployed to sign Georgia U.S. Rep. Tom Price's health and human services nomination, she jokingly objected.
“You know, he’s going to be terrific and he’s going to get approved, but I’ll give you a different one," Trump said after he saw her reaction.
The exchange prompted House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., to jokingly intervene on behalf of his pal.
“I’ll take him," he said.
Democrats, of course, aren't thrilled with Price's nomination. At his confirmation hearing earlier this week, they slammed the seven-term Republican lawmaker for his stances on health care and entitlement programs. They also raised questions about his stock trades.
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