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On Christmas Eve 2025, former President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump spent part of their holiday at their Mar‑a‑Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida taking part in a holiday tradition that puts political leaders in touch with American families in a uniquely whimsical way. Rather than retreating entirely from the public eye, the couple answered phone calls from children who dialed into the North American Aerospace Defense Command’s (NORAD) annual Santa Tracker hotline, a decades‑old operation that playfully tracks Santa Claus’s progress around the globe and lets youngsters speak directly with adults about their Christmas wishes.
The event, which has become a Christmas Eve ritual enjoyed by families across the country, provided a stage for Trump to mix lighthearted holiday interaction with his own distinctive style of public engagement. As children phoned in eager to know where Santa was and what he might bring, Trump interjected his own commentary — at times cheerful and festive, and at others humorous and personal in ways that reflected his larger public persona.
During one exchange, speaking with children from several states, Trump reassured a caller that Santa was “a very good person,” but also injected a tongue‑in‑cheek warning about not letting “a bad Santa” infiltrate the country, a remark that garnered laughter among adults nearby. On another call, when an 8‑year‑old said they did not want coal in their stocking, Trump seized on the moment, joking that there is such a thing as “clean, beautiful coal,” a phrase he has used in other contexts while discussing energy policy. The child quickly clarified that they would prefer traditional Christmas gifts, and the exchange unfolded with smiles and amusement among those observing.
Trump also complimented several young callers on their intelligence, telling one child that choosing what he hoped Santa would bring them suggested they must be a “high‑IQ person,” blending holiday banter with praise. Throughout the calls, the president maintained an energetic and playful tone, at times offering humorous descriptions of Santa’s appearance, including calling him “a little bit on the cherubic side.”
Melania Trump participated in the calls as well, though more quietly and softly than her husband. While she spoke to some children directly, offering traditional holiday advice like reminding kids to go to sleep so Santa could arrive, Trump’s more theatrical presence often dominated the exchanges. In between calls, he joked with reporters observing the session, saying that he could take child callers “all day long” but promising he would eventually have to return to other pressing matters.
The NORAD Santa Tracker calls have a long history and are part of a broader Christmas Eve tradition that stretches back decades, offering children the chance to connect with adults about the magic of the season. This year’s version brought Trump into a familiar, if unexpected, spotlight, where his comments ranged from festive to humorous to distinctly in his own voice. In addition to the playful exchanges, he also took opportunities to praise certain states, hinting at political loyalty while assuring children about Santa’s goodwill.
After wrapping up the calls, Trump hosted a Christmas Eve dinner in the grand ballroom of his Mar‑a‑Lago resort. Reporters who had been present were eventually asked to leave, giving way to private holiday festivities among guests. Later that evening, Trump shared a holiday greeting on his social platform that began with a classic seasonal tone but quickly veered into political territory. The message wished everyone a merry Christmas while also offering sharp remarks aimed at political opponents, using language that underscored ongoing divisions in the national discourse even on a night typically associated with unity and goodwill.
Throughout his time engaging with children and guests, Trump avoided discussing broader political controversies or ongoing legal and political issues facing his administration and his allies. Instead, he focused his public interactions on the holiday tradition, festive banter, and personal commentary that reflected his long‑running approach to public communication. While the primary purpose of the NORAD calls is to bring holiday cheer and connect children to the mythic journey of Santa Claus, Trump’s involvement inevitably drew attention to the ways in which political figures can shape and personalize even the most traditional seasonal moments.
Observers noted that Trump’s manner blended sincerity with self‑referential humor, creating a mix of festive interaction and political subtext. Children on the calls asked typical holiday questions — about Santa’s speed, where he was heading next, and what gifts they might receive — and received playful responses that often circled back to familiar themes from Trump’s public life. Melania’s quieter participation offered a contrast, emphasizing the traditional warmth of holiday advice, while Trump’s responses sometimes reflected his penchant for blending personal narrative with the festive format.
As the evening drew to a close and Christmas Day dawned, the Trump family’s engagement with the NORAD tradition became one of the many stories of the holiday season — a blend of family, festivity, and public persona that underscored how political figures interact with national traditions. Whether through humorous remarks about coal and Santa’s demeanor, or through a holiday message that mixed holiday cheer with political commentary, the night at Mar‑a‑Lago offered a snapshot of how contemporary politics and classic celebrations can intersect in ways that capture public attention.
