President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump took part in the annual NORAD Tracks Santa tradition Christmas Eve, answering calls from children nationwide while vacationing at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. The president blended holiday cheer with light-hearted political and energy messaging, praising kids’ intellect and promoting coal as “clean and beautiful.”
President Trump fielded phone calls from children tracking Santa’s global journey, engaging in jovial conversation about holiday wishes. When an 8-year-old from Kansas said she didn’t want coal, Trump insisted on the virtues of “clean, beautiful coal,” a phrase reflecting his long-standing support for traditional energy sources.
In another exchange, Trump praised a child’s wish for an Amazon Kindle, telling them, “You must be a high-IQ person,” and noting the country “needs more high-IQ people.” The president also joked about Santa’s appetite and reassured children that Santa would not be upset if they didn’t leave cookies, saying the jolly gift-giver was “a little on the cherubic side.”
During a call with a child in Oklahoma, Trump expressed affection for the state, referencing his victories there in the 2024 election and telling the child, “Don’t ever leave Oklahoma.” He also playfully warned against the notion of a “bad Santa” infiltrating the country, affirming that Santa “is good” in the context of the NORAD tradition.
Observers noted that the president used the light-hearted platform to underscore policy themes important to his administration, including energy independence and national pride, while keeping the tone festive. First Lady Melania also engaged with callers, offering warm holiday messages and reinforcing the couple’s involvement in the tradition.
The NORAD Santa Tracker event, a longstanding holiday custom allowing children to call in and follow Santa’s journey across the globe, provided a backdrop for these interactions
