Former President Donald Trump infused his annual Christmas Eve phone calls with children tracking Santa via NORAD with partisan political rhetoric, repeatedly making unsubstantiated claims about the 2020 presidential election. These traditional festive interactions, usually apolitical, became a platform for the Republican frontrunner to reiterate grievances and praise supporters. His remarks drew immediate attention for their deviation from customary presidential decorum during such public engagements.
During a call with a five-year-old boy from Pennsylvania inquiring about Santa’s location, Mr. Trump asserted, “Pennsylvania’s great. We won Pennsylvania, actually, three times,” a claim that fact-checkers have consistently debunked, confirming he lost the state in the 2020 election. He similarly addressed children in Oklahoma, telling them, “Oklahoma was very good to me in the election. So I love Oklahoma,” linking the festive greetings directly to his political performance.
The former president continued this pattern with a family in Washington state, declaring, “The country is doing well! We saved our country,” further weaving his political narrative into the holiday conversation. A separate interaction with service members faced technical disruptions, prompting Mr. Trump to quip about “the enemy doing it” before aides swiftly ushered journalists from the room, underscoring the political undertones of the event.
Mr. Trump’s Christmas messages extended beyond the phone calls to his social media platform, Truth Social, where he issued a more pointed statement. “Merry Christmas to all, including the Radical Left Scum that is doing everything possible to destroy our Country, but are failing badly,” he wrote, concluding with “We are respected again, perhaps like never before. God Bless America!!! President DJT.” These posts amplified his confrontational stance during the holiday period.
Even discussions about Santa Claus took on a unique political flavor. To a four-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy in Oklahoma, Mr. Trump stated, “We track Santa all over the world. We want to make sure that Santa is being good,” adding a peculiar concern about “infiltrating into our country a bad Santa.” He later reassured them, “we found out that Santa is good. Santa loves you. Santa loves Oklahoma, like I do… don’t ever leave Oklahoma, okay?”
In another exchange, Mr. Trump complimented a 10-year-old named Spencer from Washington state for wanting a Kindle, remarking, “Oh wow, that’s pretty good. You must be a high I.Q. person. We need more high I.Q. people in the country.” A mother on a call from Pennsylvania prompted her child to affirm love for President Trump, leading him to respond, “I bet your mom voted properly!” These comments highlighted a blurring of personal interaction and political messaging.
The former president also engaged in a playful yet politically charged exchange regarding Christmas coal. When a child expressed not wanting coal, Mr. Trump interjected, “You mean, clean, beautiful coal?” with a mock incredulity, adding, “I had to do that, I’m sorry. Coal is clean and beautiful! Please remember that at all costs.” This remark subtly referenced his administration’s focus on the coal industry and energy policy.
The unconventional Christmas Eve calls and social media posts elicited divided reactions across the political spectrum. Supporters of the MAGA movement reportedly enjoyed the former president’s characteristic humor and directness. Conversely, left-leaning social media users expressed widespread disapproval, with comments ranging from calling him a “goon” and “malignant narcissist” to an “unstable person” on platforms like Bluesky and X.
Journalist Ron Filipowski commented on Bluesky, “Little kid just wants to hear about Santa and Trump wants to talk about himself again,” encapsulating a common criticism. A spokesperson for California Governor Gavin Newsom, a prominent critic of Mr. Trump, notably declared, “We hope Santa gives him coal,” signaling the ongoing political friction even during the holiday season. The exchanges underscored the deeply polarized political climate.
Traditionally, U.S. presidents participate in these Christmas Eve calls, providing updates on Santa’s journey as tracked by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). The role is typically one of benign, festive reassurance for children. Mr. Trump’s approach, however, marked a significant departure from this established non-partisan tradition, integrating his political agenda into what is usually a universally cherished holiday event.
This was not the first instance of Mr. Trump’s unconventional interactions during these holiday events. In 2018, he famously questioned a young girl’s belief in Santa, asking, “Are you still a believer in Santa? Because at seven, it’s marginal, right?” This previous episode also drew public comment and highlighted his tendency to deviate from conventional presidential conduct in such settings.
