Trump Christmas calls to children spark online ridicule and debate

United States President Donald Trump’s participation in a Christmas Eve tradition involving phone calls with children has drawn widespread online reaction, after several of his remarks during the event circulated on social media and prompted ridicule and political debate.

The comments were made during the annual NORAD Tracks Santa programme, a long-running holiday initiative in which US military officials help track Santa Claus’s journey around the world for children.

President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump took calls from children on Christmas Eve as part of the North American Aerospace Defense Command’s Santa tracking event, a tradition dating back to 1955. The president participated from his Mar-a-Lago residence in the US state of Florida, speaking to children from different parts of the country.

During one call, President Trump asked a child what he wanted for Christmas. After the child hesitated and then replied that he wanted a Kindle electronic reader, the president praised the choice and commented on the child’s intelligence. “You must be a high-IQ person. We need more high-IQ people in the country,” Mr Trump said, according to video shared by the White House Rapid Response account on X.

The remark, which prompted laughter from the child on the call, was widely shared online. Social media users responded with a mix of humour and criticism, with some questioning the appropriateness of the comment and others using it as an opportunity to criticise the president’s leadership and public conduct.

One widely shared post read: “Kids want Kindles, adults want a president who can lead the country.” Another comment mocked the remark by saying: “Let’s start by getting a president with at least an average IQ.” Several users aimed personal criticism at Mr Trump, including comments questioning his reading habits and intellectual credibility.

In other calls during the event, President Trump made additional remarks that drew attention. Speaking to two children from the state of Oklahoma, aged four and ten, he said the Santa tracking programme was intended to ensure that a “bad Santa” did not enter the United States. “We want to make sure that he’s not infiltrated,” he said, using language that echoed themes from his immigration rhetoric.

In a separate exchange with an eight-year-old girl from Kansas, who said she did not want coal as a Christmas gift, the president responded by praising coal. “You mean clean, beautiful coal,” he said, adding, “Coal is clean and beautiful. Please remember that, at all costs.” The child replied that she would prefer toys, clothes and sweets.

Mr Trump also joked about Santa Claus’s appearance during a call with another child, saying Santa was “a little bit on the cherubic side,” before explaining that he thought Santa would appreciate cookies left out for him, even if none were provided.

Throughout the calls, the president repeatedly praised the condition of the country, telling children that the United States was “in great shape” and that “the numbers are great.” At one point, he suggested he could continue taking calls for an extended period but added that he would likely need to return to other matters, including international issues involving Ukraine, Russia and China.

The first lady also took part in several calls, while the president made light-hearted remarks about her focus during the event. In another moment, speaking to a young caller from Pennsylvania, Mr Trump expressed his affection for the state and claimed Republicans had won it by a “landslide” in the most recent election.

After the calls concluded, President Trump posted a Christmas message on his Truth Social platform. In the message, he extended holiday wishes while also criticising his political opponents, referring to them in hostile language.

The NORAD Tracks Santa programme is traditionally viewed as a non-political, family-friendly event aimed at entertaining children during the Christmas season. However, Mr Trump’s comments during the calls once again demonstrated how informal presidential moments can quickly become subjects of political scrutiny and online controversy.

Context

Public appearances by US presidents during cultural or holiday traditions have often been closely watched, but the rapid spread of short video clips on social media has intensified reactions in recent years. Analysts note that such moments, while light-hearted in intent, can reinforce broader perceptions of leadership style and political messaging.

For Donald Trump, whose presidency has been marked by unconventional communication and frequent use of social media, even informal exchanges have regularly generated debate. The reactions to his Christmas Eve calls reflect the polarised political climate in the United States, where symbolic moments can swiftly become part of wider national arguments about leadership, tone and public responsibility.