Watch: Trump’s ‘bad Santa’ warning on Christmas Eve; how US President and Melania marked the holiday

US President Donald Trump marked Christmas Eve in a light-hearted mood, joking with children about Santa Claus, coal-filled stockings and even a “bad Santa” infiltrating the country. He joined first lady Melania Trump for the annual NORAD Santa-tracking calls from their Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.Vacationing at his Palm Beach resort, Trump took part in the Christmas Eve tradition on Wednesday that allows children who call the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) to track Santa Claus as the US military playfully follows his journey around the world.

Some of these calls are patched through to the president, giving youngsters a chance to speak directly with the commander-in-chief.Speaking to children from several US states, the president struck a jovial tone and said he enjoyed the interaction so much that he “could do this all day long.” However, he further highlighted that he would eventually have to return to pressing global issues, including efforts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.“We want to make sure that Santa is being good. Santa’s a very good person,” Trump said while speaking to children aged between four and ten. “We want to make sure that he’s not infiltrated, that we’re not infiltrating into our country a bad Santa.”US President and Melania Trump sat side by side and took around a dozen calls between them. While the first lady spoke quietly with children, advising them to sleep early so Santa could arrive, the president joked about her focus.“She’s able to focus totally, without listening,” Trump said as Melania remained on her call.During the conversations, Trump mixed humour with reassurance. When an eight-year-old girl from North Carolina asked whether Santa would be angry if children did not leave cookies for him, Trump replied, “He won’t get mad, but I think he’ll be very disappointed.”“You know, Santa — he tends to be a little bit on the cherubic side. You know what cherubic means? A little on the heavy side,” he added. “I think Santa would like some cookies.”In another call, an eight-year-old girl from Kansas said she hoped Santa would not leave coal in her stocking.“You mean clean, beautiful coal?” Trump responded, invoking a phrase he has frequently used while promoting domestic coal production. Laughing, he added, “I had to do that, I’m sorry.”“Coal is clean and beautiful. Please remember that, at all costs,” Trump said, before acknowledging that the child preferred a Barbie doll, clothes and candy.At several points, Trump referenced the military updates on Santa’s location, relayed by a general overseeing the NORAD operation, telling children when Santa would be reaching their homes.Despite the festive tone of the calls, Trump later returned to his familiar political messaging. Shortly after wrapping up the Christmas Eve conversations, he posted on his Truth Social platform: “Merry Christmas to all, including the Radical Left Scum that is doing everything possible to destroy our Country, but are failing badly.”Trump contrasted his administration’s achievements with policies he opposes.“We no longer have Open Borders, Men in Women’s Sports, Transgender for Everyone, or Weak Law Enforcement. What we do have is a Record Stock Market and 401K’s, Lowest Crime numbers in decades, No Inflation, and yesterday, a 4.3 GDP, two points better than expected,” he added.Trump has a history of using Christmas messages to criticise political opponents. In past years, he has posted holiday greetings aimed at what he has described as the “Radical Left Lunatics.”On Christmas Eve, however, the president appeared to enjoy the lighter moment, telling reporters watching nearby at Mar-a-Lago that speaking with children during the Santa-tracking calls was a welcome break from global affairs.