President Trump and first lady Melania Trump participated in the longstanding holiday tradition of taking calls from children across the country, anticipating Santa Claus’ arrival.
As the North American Aerospace Defense Command tracked Santa Claus’ sleigh, the first couple spoke to families and children as a part of NORAD’s Santa Tracker hotline.
Seated on gold-trimmed armchairs in a room filled with Christmas decor, the two asked the children what they hoped Santa Claus would bring them and if they had any questions.
His answers included political jokes on topics from immigration to his 2024 election win.
When an Oklahoma caller asked why Santa Claus is being tracked, Mr. Trump said, “We track Santa all over the world.”
“We want to make sure that he’s not infiltrated, that we are not infiltrating into our country a bad Santa,” he said. “We found that Santa is Good!”
He also said he was fond of the child’s state, pointing to its support in the last presidential election.
“Santa loves you. Santa loves Oklahoma like I do. You know, Oklahoma was very good to me in the election,” he said. “So I love Oklahoma. Don’t ever leave Oklahoma, OK?”
He asked a child in Kansas about Christmas wishes and got the reply “Um, not coal,” which caused Mr. Trump to allude to his pro-fossil fuels energy policy.
“Not coal, no, you don’t want coal — you mean clean, beautiful coal. I had to do that, I’m sorry,” Mr. Trump said, laughing.
“No, coal is clean and beautiful. Please remember that at all costs,” he added. “But you don’t want clean, beautiful coal, right? What would you like?”
As an ally of the coal industry, he has aimed to boost its use, deeming coal “clean” and “beautiful.”
When answering the phone for a child from Pennsylvania, Mr. Trump touted three election victories there, though he only won it twice, in 2016 and 2024.
“I know Pennsylvania is great. We won Pennsylvania, actually, three times,” he said, adding, “I bet your mom voted properly.”
Aside from asking children what they wanted for Christmas, the president heaped praise on the most recent GDP report.
“Great numbers, great financials,” Mr. Trump told reporters gathered in the room. “I don’t think the kids are too interested in that.”
After his six calls, the president told reporters that he could take the calls from children “all day long” but had to return to working on international matters.
“This is fun, right?” he said at one point between calls. “This is America.”
• Mary McCue Bell can be reached at mbell@washingtontimes.com.
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